Publication Date:
2011-08-18
Description:
Ultraviolet spectra of the peculiar eclipsing binary Epsilon Aurigae (FO Ia + ?) were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer at pre-eclipse and ingress partial phases. The results show a wavelength dependence of the eclipse in contrast to the grayness (non-wavelength dependence) of the eclipse observed in visible light. From the current results, incorporating previous observations, it is suggested that: (1) the obscuration of the light of the F supergiant by the disk proposed by Huang (1965) is the result of electron scattering in visible light; (2) the increase in the eclipse depths toward shorter wavelengths observed in the ultraviolet is caused by dust; and (3) the temperature of the disk is in the range from 1000 to 2000 K.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor (ISSN 0004-637X); 269; June 1
Format:
text
