Measuring $\eta$ Carinae's High Mass Ejecta in the Infrared and Sub-millimeter

Abstract

I address uncertainties on the spatial distribution and mass of the dust formed in $\eta$ Carinae's Homunculus nebula with data being combined from several space- and ground-based facilities spanning near-infrared to sub-mm wavelengths, in terms of observational constraints and modeling. Until these aspects are better understood, the mass loss history and mechanisms responsible for $\eta$ Car's enormous eruption(s) remain poorly constrained.