New simulation takes us inside the Eta Carina nebula.

[Aethon]

Possibly my favorite celestial object.

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasa-observatories-take-an-unprecedented-look-into-superstar-eta-carinae/index.html#.VK23cyvF-Yc

[Frida Space]

I'm mind-blown by what we actually know about a star light years away. I mean, did you see the detail in those simulations? Probably not 120% accurate, but still... jeez

[78stonewobble]

Nice find and I must admit that the Eta Carina and it's surroundings (also further) is very interesting to me too.

Here's a link to a few nice pictures if anyeones interested:

http://thethoughtstash.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/space-scenery-carina-nebula/

[lajoswinkler]

It's gonna be mighty interesting when it blows up.

[Camacha]

It is one of my favourite things to do as I look up to the night's sky - remember myself that most of those dots are binary or multiple star systems. We are so used to our Sun that it is easy to forget that single stars are not really a norm.

[AngelLestat]

but is weird that they are happy with a theory that does not explain why they explode years ago.

Maybe this system is too young, they was not a binary system before the explossion take place..

Lets imagine 2 starts in a collission route (or close enoght to had an intersecction between their corona), that kind of encounter may produce this huge explossions.

That encounter could slow down both starts enoght to make them binary, but the huge explossion also push them against each other in their periastron (we can see that the explossion are kinda collimated in 2 jet streams)

It said that the periastron they have now is about the distance between sun and mars. That is very close for 2 massive stars like these.

[78stonewobble]

but is weird that they are happy with a theory that does not explain why they explode years ago.

Maybe this system is too young, they was not a binary system before the explossion take place..

Lets imagine 2 starts in a collission route (or close enoght to had an intersecction between their corona), that kind of encounter may produce this huge explossions.

That encounter could slow down both starts enoght to make them binary, but the huge explossion also push them against each other in their periastron (we can see that the explossion are kinda collimated in 2 jet streams)

It said that the periastron they have now is about the distance between sun and mars. That is very close for 2 massive stars like these.

This theory is about the interacting solar winds for massive stars and while it may be related to, it's not necessarily the cause of mass loss in massive stars or supernova impostor events.

[*Aqua*]

but the huge explossion also push them against each other in their periastron

I guestimate a force pushing two stars apart from each other so they don't merge would obliberate them.

But if one of the stars brought a brown dwarf with it which then collided with one of the stars it probably could cause a nova.

[AngelLestat]

the amount of matter expelled (is about 10 to 40 solar masses) at higher speeds, that is enoght to make a big push.

Also any "atmosphere" lost in both stars may be recaptured.

Of course the dwarf example sounds more plausible.

[*Aqua*]

Stars are giant hot gas balls. You don't push them. You would tear the outer shells off them or force them to go nova especially when throwing stuff with the weight of several sun masses at them.

[AngelLestat]

of course you can push them, gas particles also has momentum, you have a pressure inside the star, all that mass that ends behind has gravity effects over the same star, photons also carry momentum, magnetic fields and charge in particles, etc...

[78stonewobble]

I guestimate a force pushing two stars apart from each other so they don't merge would obliberate them.

But if one of the stars brought a brown dwarf with it which then collided with one of the stars it probably could cause a nova.

Exploding stars in binaries can give the surviving member quite the kick, but isn't that precipitated on the exploding star seizing to exist?

[*Aqua*]

@AngelLestat

The outer shells of a star have a very very low density. Look what a small 4 km comet did to Jupiter:

Density curve of our sun:

How do you want to push that? You will just blast the upper atmosphere away. Below of it is the convective zone. In our sun the convective zone has a density from 0.2 to 20 g/cm³ and is still considered as plasma, not as solid, liquid oder gaseous. The stuff will just move out of the way or starts to fusion if you hammer it with a solar mass.

I expect the what-ever-it-was-but-has-several-sun-masses was some kind of plasma cloud. The star will suck it in, says 'Thank you' and grows in size.

Then the orbits will change because the mass distribution in the solar system changed. Suns are now more massive/one sun has less mass and a thick plasma cloud leaves the system. Because a lot of mass leaves the system the orbits will get bigger.

[kmMango]

Is it at all possible that the "small" secondary formed from an earlier outburst?

Also, kind of ridiculous that the "small" secondary is capable of producing a supernova in its own right:confused:

[LordFerret]

It is one of my favourite things to do as I look up to the night's sky - remember myself that most of those dots are binary or multiple star systems. We are so used to our Sun that it is easy to forget that single stars are not really a norm.

What always gives me somewhat of a chuckle, is that everything you see up there - isn't there ... it's all somewhere else right now.

[Aethon]

3D print your own Homunculus nebula.

http://www.space.com/28643-giant-star-eta-carinae-3d-printing.html