Fermi–LAT Observations toward the Galactic Center

The inner region of the Milky Way is one of the most interesting and complex regions of the γ-ray sky. Intense interstellar emission and point sources contribute to it, as well as other potential components such as an unresolved population of point sources and dark matter. In recent years, claims have been made of an excess consistent with a dark matter annihilation signal in the data collected with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi–LAT). Although these results are intriguing, the complexity involved in modeling the foreground and background emission from conventional astrophysical sources of γ-rays makes a conclusive interpretation of these results challenging. In these proceedings, I discuss Fermi–LAT observations of the Galactic center region, the methodology for point source detection and treatment of the interstellar emission, the characterization of the GeV excess, and implications for dark matter.