The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 608, Issue 2, pp. L97-L100.

arXiv:astro-ph/0403422

Abstract:  We report a possible detection of TeV gamma rays from the Galactic center by the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope. Twenty-six hours of data were taken over an extended period from 1995 through 2003 resulting in a total significance of 3.7 σ. The measured excess corresponds to an integral flux of 1.6×10-8+/-0.5×10^-8 (stat)+/-0.3×10^-8 (sys) photons m^-2 s^-1 above an energy of 2.8 TeV, roughly 40% of the flux from the Crab Nebula at this energy. The 95% confidence region has an angular extent of about 15' and includes the position of Sgr A*. The detection is consistent with a point source and shows no evidence of variability.