In the Shadow of the Transiting Disk: Imaging epsilon Aurigae in Eclipse

Apr, 2010
3 pages
Published in:
  • Nature 464 (2010) 870-872
e-Print:

Citations per year

201020132016201920220246810
Abstract: (arXiv)
Eclipses of the single-line spectroscopic binary star, epsilon Aurigae, provide an opportunity to study the poorly-defined companion. We used the MIRC beam combiner on the CHARA array to create interferometric images during eclipse ingress. Our results demonstrate that the eclipsing body is a dark disk that is opaque and tilted, and therefore exclude alternative models for the system. These data constrain the geometry and masses of the components, providing evidence that the F-star is not a massive supergiant star.