1.8 MeV Emission from the Carina Region

Abstract

Significant 1.8 MeV emission from the Carina region has been detected by COMPTEL. The emission is concentrated within 6 degrees or less near the Carina nebula NGC 3372, one of the brightest HII regions known in our Galaxy. This region contains a wealth of extreme young open clusters whose massive stars possibly contributed to an enrichment of 26Al in the ISM within the last few million years. The relation of these clusters and the peculiar object Eta Carinae with the observed emission is discussed. The 26Al yield of the clusters is estimated using current theoretical nucleosynthesis models.

4 pages, accepted by A&AS, for further preprints see http://www.gamma.mpe-garching.mpg.de/~jrk/jrk.html