Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011aas...21725703k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #217, #257.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We have been using the CHARA Array with the MIRC beam combiner to obtain the first-ever interferometric observations of the enigmatic binary, epsilon Aurigae. The first two in-eclipse images, obtained in 2009, prove that the eclipsing body is a thin, opaque disk of material akin to transitional or debris disks. From these data we have derived a mass ratio that shows the F-type star is 3.6 ± 0.7 M&sun;, making it the less massive component in the system and thus not a high-mass supergiant as was classically believed. Four additional observations were scheduled in 2010. In this work we present reconstructed images from all epochs using two new image reconstruction algorithms, SQUEEZE and GPAIR. We discuss the progress towards our goals: to determine the evolutionary status of the components in the binary; and define the composition, density, and temperature structure of the disk.
The CHARA Array, operated by Georgia State University, was built with funding provided by the National Science Foundation, Georgia State University, the W. M. Keck Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This research is supported by the National Science Foundation as well as by funding from the office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Georgia State University. MIRC was supported by the National Science Foundation. The University of Denver participants are grateful for support under NSF grant 10-16678 and the bequest of William Hershel Womble in support of astronomy at the University of Denver.
Baron Fabien
Brummelaar Theo ten
Carroll Sean
Che Xiao
Farrington Chris
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