In a large outburst in 1841 , the \(120-M\) sun star Eta Carinae was losing mass at the rate of \(0.1 \mathrm{M}_{\text {sun }}\) per year. a. The mass of the Sun is \(2 \times 10^{30}\) kg. How much mass (in kilograms) was Eta Carinae losing each minute? b. The mass of the Moon is \(7.35 \times 10^{22}\) kg. How does Eta Carinae's mass loss per minute compare with the mass of the Moon?

Eta Carinae is one of the most massive and luminous stars in our galaxy. It's about 7,500 light-years away from Earth, located in the Carina constellation. This star has fascinated astronomers due to its unpredictable behavior and massive eruptions.

In 1841, Eta Carinae had a significant outburst, dramatically increasing its brightness. This event is known as the 'Great Eruption.' During this period, it expelled a substantial amount of mass into the surrounding space, creating the Homunculus Nebula.

The star's mass loss during such outbursts provides crucial insights into the life cycles of massive stars and their eventual fate as supernovae or hypernovae.

Mass loss rate is the amount of mass a star loses over a certain period. For Eta Carinae during the 1841 eruption, we know it lost mass at a rate of 0.1 solar masses per year. Given the Sun’s mass is about 2 × 10^{30} kg, Eta Carinae was shedding substantial amounts of material.

This rate of loss affects the star's evolution and lifespan. When stars like Eta Carinae lose mass, they can alter their internal pressure and temperature, leading to further instability and eruptions.

The calculation done shows Eta Carinae lost 3.8 × 10^{23} kg every minute during this outburst. This massive rate of loss influences the surrounding space, contributing gas and dust to the interstellar medium, which may eventually form new stars and planets.

Astronomical calculations help us understand events and phenomena in the universe. For example, to determine how much mass Eta Carinae lost per minute, start by calculating the total mass lost in a year. With a loss rate of 0.1 solar masses and the Sun being 2 × 10^{30} kg, the yearly mass loss is 2 × 10^{29} kg.

Next, convert this annual mass loss into a rate per minute. There are 525,960 minutes in a year. We divide the yearly loss by this number to find the mass lost per minute: about 3.8 × 10^{23} kg/min.

Astronomical calculations like these are essential for comparing stellar events to more familiar objects. For instance, comparing the mass loss per minute of Eta Carinae to the Moon's mass (7.35 × 10^{22} kg) shows the star lost mass at a rate roughly 5.17 times the mass of the Moon every minute.

Stellar phenomena, such as the mass loss and eruptions observed with Eta Carinae, are critical for understanding the life and death of stars. Stars like Eta Carinae expand, contract, and release material as they evolve. These processes contribute to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the cosmos.

During the Great Eruption, Eta Carinae expelled so much material that it briefly became one of the brightest stars in the sky. This event highlighted just how energetic and violent the lives of massive stars can be.

Studying these phenomena helps astronomers predict future behaviors of other stars and enriches the knowledge of the universe's lifecycle, from star formation to their explosive endpoints as supernovae or even black holes.