HST FOC observations of η carinae

The Faint Object Camera (FOC) on the HST was used to observe the inner regions of η Carinae through the filters F550M, F307M, and F190M. η Carinae is a very massive LBV with spectacular episodic shell ejections at an enormous mass loss rate. The new high-resolution FOC images resolved for the first time at visible and UV wavelengths the 3 speckle objects B, C, and D at separations of ∼ 0.1 to 0.3''. In addition to these objects new circumstellar structures were found. The image of the central object A is more extended than the core of the corresponding PSF. In the two UV images a new ring-shaped nebulosity was discovered. We discuss the HST FOC observations, compare the HST images with the diffraction-limited speckle masking observations at near-IR wavelengths, and discuss the nature and motion of the objects near the dominant star.