Epsilon Aurigae

47000 L ☉

Almaaz ( from Arabic الماعز, DMG al - mā ʿ iz, Goat ( nbock ) ', nor Al Anz or Haldus ) is the name of the star ε Aurigae ( Epsilon Aurigae ) in the constellation Auriga.

Survey

Almaaz is an eclipsing binary star Algol type in about 2000 light years away. Of all known eclipsing binary ε Aurigae has around 27 years ( 9892 days ) to the largest period. A special feature of the supergiant of spectral type F0 is the nature and duration of coverage, suggesting a very great companion.

The first cover of Almaaz was observed already in 1821 by the German amateur astronomer JH Fritsch, making this star one of the first eclipsing stars that have been discovered. The periodicity of the light curve, however, was first detected in 1903 by Hans Ludendorff and examined. The covering phase lasts quite exactly two years, the minimum between the second and third contact so-called takes about 330 days. The last eclipse started in 2009 and lasts until 2011.

The spectral type of 15 to 30 solar masses heavier main component is A8Ia - F2Ia, about the nature of the secondary component could from spectroscopic studies no reliable statement can be made. It was suggested, however, that it is a binary star system in a dark cloud. Through direct observation of the course of the cover in 2009 with the help of the Michigan Infra -Red Combiner ( MIRC ), an interferometer that combines the light from four individual telescopes of the Georgia State University CHARA array could be shown that a dark disk of dust that a small, non- visible star surrounds passeth before Epsilon Aurigae.