Eta Carinae - Supernovas

Zootmurph · Post by **Zootmurph** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 8:59 pm

I would just like to have someone explain why star explode into 'lobes', as the picture on APOD 3/26/2006 shows, rather than exploding outward in all directions.

Thanks in advance.

Qev · Post by **Qev** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:29 am

I don't think the shape the nebula surrounding Eta Carinae is all that well understood, actually. The star hasn't exploded yet (that we know), but has had some sort of violent outburst, which has created those clouds of gas. If I had to guess, I'd say the shape of the nebula is being constrained by the star's magnetic field.

http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... php?t=1102