Eta Carinae

Description

Outshining almost every other star in the sky, the Eta Carinae system first came to the attention of nineteenth century astronomers during a twenty-year cosmic event. Characterised by massive explosions of gas, it later came to be known as the ‘Great Eruption’. Advanced telescopy has allowed onlookers to understand that, during this short but tumultuous period, the two stars in this system cast off a mass of material equivalent to ten times that of the Earth’s Sun. Astronomers today are eager to enhance their understanding of the interaction between these partner stars, with Eta Car A being the larger of the two, while its counterpart, Eta Car B, is the hotter, having a surface temperature of approximately 40,000 degrees centigrade. In the late 1990s, this unstable structure suddenly doubled its brightness. It is hypothesised that the system will explode in about one million years’ time. It remains one of the brightest stars in the cosmos.

The artist was inspired by the explosive nature and unique, brain-like structure of the Eta Carinae system, with its intricate and complex design evoking a sense of cosmic wonder and dramatic energy. The artist also highlighted the system’s vibrant, fiery red hues, adding to the overall sense of dynamism and intensity.