The origin of QSO MgII lambda 2796 lines

We have started a systematic spectroscopic survey of stars in the eta Carin a nebula using the echelle mode of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). The Mg II lambda 2796/lambda 2803 lines seen in our R similar to 1 00000, spectra of the star CPD-59 degrees 2603 show a remarkable similarity with the intervening Mg II system seen in QSO absorption spectra. Such a c omparison can shed light on the nature and origin of lines seen in QSO's.