MIDINFRARED STUDIES OF ETA-CARINAE .1. SUBARCSECOND IMAGING AT 12.5 AND 17 MU-M

Subarcsecond imaging of eta Carinae in the mid-infrared has confirmed that the structure of the homunculus is that of two partially filled, osculating spherical shells. The central star is embedded in hot dusty circumstellar material in close proximity to a complex of cooler, but more massive, small-scale features, probably radiatively heated by th e central material. Some of the features have are-like extensions whic h are resolved into loop- or ring-like associations of smaller sources . These structures comprise the central core region of eta Carinae, of size 5 x 4 arcsec(2), which is otherwise of relatively low density.