* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: zeta Aurigae

Blobrana · L

Eclipse of the Algol type eclipsing binary star system Zeta Aurigae, with a period of 2.66 years, on the 29th October, 2011.

Blobrana · L

The 4th magnitude Algol type eclipsing binary star system Zeta Aurigae (HD 32068) with a period of 2.66 years, will be eclipsing late October through mid-December 2011. The zeta Aurigae star system, (one of "The Kids"), consists of a very hot and luminous blue star plus an even more luminous orange super giant star. The orbital line of sight eclipse lasts around 43 days.
The star system will be placed high in the sky late evening and early morning.
First Contact is estimated at 29 October with ingress about 3 - 4 days and totality about 35 days.

Predicted Contact Times and Magnitudes:

1st Contact 29 October     2011 JD 24555864
2nd Contact 02 November 2011 JD 24555868
Mid-Eclipse   20 November 2011 JD 2455886
3rd Contact 09 December 2011 JD 24555905
4th Contact 13 December 2011 JD 24555909

B 4.927
V 3.769

U Band Magnitude Change 1.576
B Band Magnitude Change 0.213
V Band Magnitude Change 0.079

The zeta Aurigae system allows observations of the chromospheric, or outermost layers, of the orange super giant star. By careful observations during the ingress and egress phase of the eclipse, information about the super giant's atmosphere can be gained.

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Position (J2000):     R.A. 05 02 28.68739 | Dec. +41° 04' 33.0200''

Blobrana · L

Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has traditional names Haedus (also Hoedus) and Sadatoni (rarely Saclateri).
Zeta Aurigae is an Algol type eclipsing binary, which varies from magnitude +3.61 to +3.99 with a period of 972 days.
The main star is a red K5II supergiant, the blue B7V companion belongs to the spectral class B7V. Zeta Aurigae is approximately 790 light-years from Earth.

Source

zeta Aurigae is predicted to enter secondary eclipse on the 17th November, 2009,
During secondary eclipse the B7V star will partly obscure the K5II star.
The secondary eclipse is predicted to last about 40 days.
The primary eclipse occurred in March 2009.

Position(2000): RA 05 02 28.6869, Dec +41 04 33.015