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Stars Similar to Eta Carinae in Nearby Galaxies

Stars Similar to Eta Carinae in Nearby Galaxies
Researchers found likely Eta twins in four galaxies by comparing the infrared and optical brightness of each candidate source. Infrared images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope revealed the presence of warm dust surrounding the stars. Comparing this information with the brightness of each source at optical and near-infrared wavelengths as measured by instruments on Hubble, the team was able to identify candidate Eta Carinae-like objects. Top: 3.6-micron images of candidate Eta twins from Spitzer's IRAC instrument. Bottom: 800-nanometer images of the same sources from various Hubble instruments.

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
    The HST data were taken from the following proposals: 7375; 12490: N. Scoville (Caltech); J. Koda (Stony Brook); 9490; 13364: K. Kunz (JHU); D. Calzetti (University of Massachusetts, Amherst); 9073: J. Bregman (University of Michigan); 12513: W. Blair (JHU) The science team for these findings includes: R. Khan (GSFC and ORAU), S. Adams, K. Stanek, and C. Kochanek (Ohio State University), and G. Sonneborn (GSFC and ORAU). Archival HST data was obtained along with data from the Spitzer IRAC 3.6-micron instrument.
  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>ACS, HST>WFPC2, and HST>WFC3
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Massive Stars Similar to Eta Carinae in Nearby Galaxies
  • Release Date
    January 6, 2016
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Spitzer, Hubble Find ‘Twins’ of Superstar Eta Carinae in Other Galaxies
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, and R. Khan (GSFC and ORAU)

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Compass and Scale
Compass and ScaleAn astronomical image with a scale that shows how large an object is on the sky, a compass that shows how the object is oriented on the sky, and the filters with which the image was made.

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Eta Twin-1 (Spitzer)

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Eta Twin-2 (Spitzer)

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Eta Twin-2 (HST)

Eta Twin-2 (HST)

Eta Twin-3 (Spitzer)

Eta Twin-3 (Spitzer)

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Eta Twin-4 (Spitzer)

Eta Twin-4 (HST)

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Eta Twin-5 (Spitzer)

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Location of Eta Car Analog Stars in Nearby Galaxies

Location of Eta Car Analog Stars in Nearby Galaxies

M51 (HST)

M51 (HST)

M101 (HST)

M101 (HST)

Spiral galaxy with winding arms of red and blue stars.

NGC 6946 (HST, Subaru)

M83 (HST)

M83 (HST)

Compass and Scale Image of Eta Car Analog Stars in Nearby Galaxies

Compass and Scale Image of Eta Car Analog Stars in Nearby Galaxies

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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