Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21541938k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #419.38; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.282
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The 27 year period eclipsing binary, epsilon Aurigae, exhibits the hallmarks of a classical Algol system, except that the companion to the F supergiant primary star is surprisingly under-luminous for its mass. Eclipse ingress appears to have begun shortly after the predicted time in August 2009, near JD 2,455,065. At the University of Denver, we have focused on near-infrared interferometry, spectroscopy, and photometry with the superior instrumentation available today, compared to that of the 1983 eclipse. Previously obtained interferometry indicates that the source is asymmetric (Stencel, et. al. 2009 APLJ) and initial CHARA+MIRC closure-phase imaging shows hints of resolved structures. In parallel, we have pursued SPEX near-IR spectra at NASA IRTF in order to confirm whether CO molecules only seen during the second half of the 1983 eclipse will reappear on schedule. Additionally, we have obtained J and H band photometry using an Optec SSP-4 photometer with a newly written control and analysis suite. Our goal is to refine daytime photometric methods in order to provide coverage of the anticipated mid-eclipse brightening during summer 2010, from our high-altitude observatory atop Mt. Evans, Colorado. Also, many parallel observations are ongoing as part of the epsilon Aurigae international campaign (http://www.hposoft.com/Campaign09.html). In this report, we describe the progress of the eclipse and ongoing observations. We invite interested parties to get involved with the campaign for coverage of the 2009-2011 eclipse via the campaign websites: http://www.hposoft.com/Campaign09.html - and - http://www.du.edu/ rstencel/epsaur.htm - and - http://www.citizensky.org . This research is supported in part by the bequest of William Herschel Womble to the University of Denver. We are grateful to the participants in the observing campaign and invite interested parties to join us in monitoring the star for the balance of the eclipse.
Hopkins Jeff L.
Kloppenborg Brian K.
Stencel Robert E.
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