  The fusion reactions 12C(12C,a)20Ne and 12C(12C,p)23Na have been studied from
E = 2.10 to 4.75 MeV by gamma-ray spectroscopy using a C target with ultra-low
hydrogen contamination. The deduced astrophysical S(E)* factor exhibits new
resonances at E <= 3.0 MeV, in particular a strong resonance at E = 2.14 MeV,
which lies at the high-energy tail of the Gamow peak. The resonance increases
the present non-resonant reaction rate of the alpha channel by a factor of 5
near T = 8x10^8 K. Due to the resonance structure, extrapolation to the Gamow
energy E_G = 1.5 MeV is quite uncertain. An experimental approach based on an
underground accelerator placed in a salt mine in combination with a high
efficiency detection setup could provide data over the full E_G energy range.
