Humunculus expansion visible?

[SkyViking]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has done some close ups of the Humunculus nebula around Eta Carinae itself?

I did this one a couple of years ago and compared it with the famous HST shot taken 10 years earlier. When lined up with the stars it definitely looks like it's expanding:
http://www.geocities.com/hwy37/deepsky/homunculus1996-2006.html

I suppose seeing it expand over a period of 10 years is to be expected.

Anyone else with close ups of this nebula? Would be interesting to compare more images.

[gregbradley]

Wow, what an awesome image. You did incredibly well to shoot that.

It certainly looks like it is an enormous explosion. You'd expect in 10 years to see that expansion given the incredible speeds these things usually move at minus the huge distance away.

For all we know the whole thing fully blew up ages ago and the light is on route to us.

Greg.

[renormalised]

Brilliant piece of work!!!!:D:D

When it finally does go pop, it's going to be one decent sort of display!!!:eyepop::D

[erick]

Very interesting, thanks. :)

[Ric]

Great imaging Rolf, that certainly is an amazing comparison.

[strongmanmike]

Certainly looks like expansion to me Rolf.

Looking at your web site, you have produced some great shots with that web cam BTW :eyepop:

Mike

[tonybarry]

Daniel Verschatse has a good image of the Homunculus Nebula from 2008 at his site ...

http://www.verschatse.cl/nebulae.htm

The two guide stars mentioned are visible in his image too.

Rolf, a great bit of astro.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[SkyViking]

Thanks Greg. The Humunculus is a small but very bright target so planetary imaging techniques actually work well.



Thanks, yes certainly hoping I'm still around when it goes off, but who knows. Would be a fantastic thing to witness (unless one happens to be imaging it right when it pops - I suppose it would more or less fry the chip then!)



Thanks, you're welcome :-)



Thanks, yes it's quite striking. I hope they take another HST image in a few years so we can really see what's going on.



Thanks Mike, your work is absolutely amazing! I have enjoyed your site many times. I'm planning on getting a more decent camera soon and your images are a great inspiration.



Thanks Tony, that's indeed a great image! Looks like the expansion is visible there too.

[bluescope]

Definite expansion visible ... I doubt that any of us will witness the final blast in our short lifetimes ;)

Thanks for posting the comparison images.

[Kal]

I took a shot of this (http://8737141859280320860-a-1802744773732722657-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/astroandrew/LPI_Vs_hubble.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7c qimUfg7e9KAFMRT4_wLzSlTCbQxx87q8Fcu kZlmuFroYN_I_KTUIv28iIKfMqpoDkoHvlP vLQDb3ZnOrclpHfPrhnyOKAFbpO7QSmEye8 R0TFX88pyzZT2work9rp_zV4ouKN4K1odVn aiBMSUbQBkKrLjhbjQP-h8skEhsoe7MedL4vdmUaT88taLjbHjJvETX cwZUtzr75f-SDENEehHx9AJTw%3D%3D&attredirects=0) a couple of years ago with my first camera - a meade LPI. It is a target I definately want to go back to with my DBK and a powermate.