TY - JOUR
T1 - The infrared morphology of nη Carinae
AU - Smith, Nathan
AU - Gehrz, Robert D.
AU - Krautter, Joachim
PY - 1998/9
Y1 - 1998/9
N2 - We present results of a recent 2-12 μm ground-based infrared (IR) imaging study of Eta Carinae. We discuss the comparative spatial morphology of the bipolar lobes, the "skirt" defined by the equatorial ejecta, and the bright features in the core. We derive separate color temperature values of 200, 240, and 420 K for the bipolar lobes, skirt, and core, respectively. The mass of the Homunculus Nebula estimated from thermal dust emission and a standard gas-to-dust ratio is 2.5 M⊙. Roughly one-fifth of the total mass is contained in the fast-moving equatorial ejecta. These mass estimates, combined with expansion velocities in the lobes and the skirt, lead us to conclude that the 1890 outburst and the Great Eruption of 1843 were almost comparable in terms of total kinetic energy output. We argue that it is unlikely that these eruptions were caused by tidal interactions with a companion star.
AB - We present results of a recent 2-12 μm ground-based infrared (IR) imaging study of Eta Carinae. We discuss the comparative spatial morphology of the bipolar lobes, the "skirt" defined by the equatorial ejecta, and the bright features in the core. We derive separate color temperature values of 200, 240, and 420 K for the bipolar lobes, skirt, and core, respectively. The mass of the Homunculus Nebula estimated from thermal dust emission and a standard gas-to-dust ratio is 2.5 M⊙. Roughly one-fifth of the total mass is contained in the fast-moving equatorial ejecta. These mass estimates, combined with expansion velocities in the lobes and the skirt, lead us to conclude that the 1890 outburst and the Great Eruption of 1843 were almost comparable in terms of total kinetic energy output. We argue that it is unlikely that these eruptions were caused by tidal interactions with a companion star.
KW - Circumstellar matter - dust, extinction - infrared radiation - stars
KW - Early-type -stars
KW - Individual (η Carinae)
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U2 - 10.1086/300501
DO - 10.1086/300501
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0008574616
SN - 0004-6256
VL - 116
SP - 1332
EP - 1345
JO - Astronomical Journal
JF - Astronomical Journal
IS - 3
ER -