The Carina Nebula in Three Colors
Stars, like people, do not always go gentle into that good night . The above Carina Nebula , also known as the Keyhole Nebula and NGC 3372 , results from dying star Eta Carinae's violently casting off dust and gas during its final centuries. Eta Carinae , one of the most luminous stars known, is visible as the bright star near the center of the nebula. The above picture was taken in three distinct colors of light: blue light as emitted from hot oxygen , green light as emitted by warm hydrogen , and red light as emitted by cool sulfur . Eta Carinae faded from being one of the brightest stars in the sky during the 1800s , but is still visible with binoculars in southern skies towards the constellation of Carina .