Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

Fermi/LAT observations of Eta Carinae during 2014 periastron passage

H. Takahashi
O. Reimer, K. Reitberger, A. Reimer, on behalf of the Fermi-LAT collaboration

Abstract:

Eta Carinae is one of the most massive Luminous Blue Variables in our Galaxy. It consists of a binary system with a blue companion and has an orbital period of 5.54 years. We analyzed Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data during the last periastron passage which occurred in 2014. A gamma-ray source at the location of Eta Carinae has been continuously detected in the LAT since the launch of Fermi in 2008. Here we report the detection of the source during the last periastron passage and compare the results to observations at other wavelengths.