Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21443102s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #214, #431.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.702
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 very sub-luminous. With the nearly 2 year long totality predicted to begin in mid-2009, we have been amassing pre-eclipse observations to help characterize this system as eclipse begins. Photometry has revealed that the characteristic period of the long-known low-amplitude variability (0.1 magnitude at V), has been decreasing decade to decade since last eclipse in the mid-1980s, from nearly 100 days to under 65 days currently. Spectroscopy has begun to show red-shifted components appearing that could be associated with the fringes of the eclipsing secondary object, a putative dark disk, encroaching on the F star during second half 2008, and consistent with previous radial velocity studies. Polarimetry during the last eclipse indicated a disk tilted relative to the orbital plane. Interferometry is beginning to indicate measurable asymmetry in the orbital plane, probably associated with the disk approaching conjunction. In this report, we will describe the ongoing observations and invite interested parties to get involved with the campaign for coverage of the 2009-11 eclipse. Campaign website: http://www.du.edu/ rstencel/epsaur.htm . This research is supported in part by the bequest of William Herschel Womble to the University of Denver.
Hopkins Jeff L.
Stencel Robert E.
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