Eta Car is a massive star, but it's not as bright as it used to be.
Now only easily visible in binoculars or a small telescope, Eta Carinae has a history of spectacular flaring and fading behavior.
In fact, in April of 1843
Eta Car briefly became second only to Sirius as the brightest star in planet Earth's night sky, even though at a distance of about 7,500 light-years, it is about 800 times farther away.
Surrounded by a complex and evolving nebula, Eta Carinae is seen near the center of this false-color infrared image, constructed using data from the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX).
