Augusto Damineli
Instituto de Astronomia Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas da Universidade de São Paulo

Abstract
The basic data on eta Carinae are summarized, confirming it's nature as a supermassive binary about to leave the Main Sequence. There are some indications that instabilities due to pair particle/antiparticle creation may already have started. If so, the core colapse will catch the star with most of its mass, leading to an hypernova explosion. Signs of high rotation is an additional ingredient leding to this scenario. Can we expect to be alive to watch a so big catrastrophe?

2010 July 14, 13:30

IA/U.Porto
Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (Auditorium)
Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto