Hi Trevor
Here are 2 links that maybe useful.
The first is fairly recent from 2 researchers who seem to have studied Eta Cariane a fair bit. And it is an interesing read.
Eta Carinae going supernova in my lifetime would be the astronomical icing on the cake for me, after having seen Halley's Comet, Supernova 1987A in the LMC, Comet Shoemaker Levy Impacts into Jupiter (saw the plumes from the G&K impacts) Comet Hyakutake - looked exactly as the ancients described a classic comet - a dagger hanging in the sky. Some of the Leonid Meteor Shower and of course the unforgettable Comet McNaught. Top that off with a few of my own SN and you wonder how much better can it get in ones lifetime.
The next link identifies some of the Milky Way candidates for possible supernova in the future.
Suffice to see we really don't want a type 1a supernova too close to home....very bad for business.
PeterM.
http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/0...ova-imposters/
http://wapedia.mobi/en/Supernova?t=7.