The Ejecta of Eta Carinae: What we have learned from space telescope imaging spectrograph and the Ultraviolet Echelle Spectrograph

Abstract

Between 1997.0 and 2004.3, a series of observations were accomplished with the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (HST/STIS) and from 2002.9 to 2005.3 with the Very Large Telescope/Ultraviolet Echelle Spectrograph (VLT/UVES). Coordinated observations were also done with RXTE, CHANDRA, FUSE and several ground-based telescopes. Much new information has been obtained about this Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) which appears to be a binary star system with at least one component being in very late stages of CNO-burning. These observations are summarized with intent on suggesting future observations with the VLT and VLT(I) especially during the upcoming apastron (2006.25) and periastron (2009.0). © 2007 Springer.