What historical event did the Eta Carinae system undergo in the 1840s that ejected a massive shell of material?
Answer
A Great Eruption
The Eta Carinae system experienced a spectacular event in the 1840s referred to as a Great Eruption. During this period, the star system briefly became the second-brightest object in the sky, despite being thousands of light-years distant. This immense outburst was energetic enough to eject a colossal shell of material outward from the star. This ejected material subsequently formed the structure now known as the Homunculus Nebula, which appears as a bright, hourglass-shaped feature often seen obscuring parts of the larger Carina Nebula. This single event profoundly influenced the immediate environment of the nebula.
Related Questions
Approximately how far from Earth is the Carina Nebula located within the Milky Way?How much wider is the Carina Nebula in physical dimensions compared to the Orion Nebula?What type of stellar system is the highly luminous Eta Carinae star?What historical event did the Eta Carinae system undergo in the 1840s that ejected a massive shell of material?What classification is used for the Carina Nebula due to its gas being predominantly ionized hydrogen?What is the name of the dark lane structure visible cutting through the glowing interior of the Carina Nebula?What spectacular, hourglass-shaped structure formed from material ejected during Eta Carinae's 1840s outburst?In terms of stellar output, what type of stars does the Carina complex primarily produce compared to the Orion Nebula?In false-color imagery created by telescopes like Hubble, which emission is typically mapped to the color red?Within which spiral arm of the Milky Way is the Carina Nebula situated, according to observational models?