ETA CARINAE

7500 light-years

One of the brightest parts of the Milky Way is located in the constellation Carina (the keel). The Carina Nebula is composed mostly of hydrogen gas which is seen as pink and purple in this image. The brightest star in the nebula, known as Eta Carinae, is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way and may explode within the next couple of centuries.

Credit: Stephane Guisard & Robert Gendler.

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