Early Chandra X-ray Observations of Eta Carinae

Sub-arcsecond resolution Chandra observations of η Car reveal a 40 × 70 ring or partial shell of X-ray emission surrounding an unresolved, bright, central source. The spectrum of the central source is strongly absorbed and can be fit with a high-temperature thermal continuum and emission lines. The surrounding shell is well outside the optical/IR bipolar nebula and is coincident with the Outer Shell of η Car. The X-ray spectrum of the Shell is much softer than that of the central source. The X-ray Shell is irregular and only correlates well with optical features where a bright X-ray knot coincides with a bright feature of the Outer Shell. Implications for the binary model of the central source are discussed. Subject headings: stars:individual(η Carinae) stars:early-type X-rays:stars