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Epsilon Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae An eclipsing binary with a very long orbital period (9892 days) and many unusual characteristics. A highly luminous F0 supergiant (absolute magnitude -8) is eclipsed for approximately 610 days by a larger, unseen object, the nature of which remains uncertain. It may be a disk, ring, or shell surrounding the true secondary, which could be an early B‐type giant or supergiant. Certain features might be accounted for by a warped disk around a pair of white dwarf stars, but other theories include the possibility of a precessing disk around the hot B star. During eclipses, the apparent magnitude falls from 3.0 to 3.8. Epsilon Aurigae is about 2000 l.y. away. The last eclipse was in 1983/4, and the next is due to begin in 2009.
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"Epsilon Aurigae." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Epsilon Aurigae." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-EpsilonAurigae.html "Epsilon Aurigae." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-EpsilonAurigae.html |
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Auriga
Auriga [Lat.,=the charioteer or wagoner], northern constellation traditionally represented as a man, possibly Vulcan, carrying a goat on his shoulder while driving a chariot. It lies E of Perseus and N of Gemini and Taurus. Auriga contains Capella , a bright, yellow giant star, and Epsilon Aurigae, an eclipsing binary in which a small star orbits a cool supergiant star. The constellation reaches its highest point in the evening sky in early February. |
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"Auriga." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Auriga." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Auriga.html "Auriga." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Auriga.html |
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Auriga
Auriga (abbr. Aur, gen. Aurigae) A constellation of the northern sky, representing a charioteer. Its brightest star is Capella (Alpha Aurigae). Auriga contains three 6th-magnitude open clusters, M36, M37, and M38. Epsilon Aurigae is a long-period eclipsing binary. Zeta Aurigae is another eclipsing binary, varying between magnitudes 3.7 and 4.0 with a period of 972 days; it is the prototype of the Zeta Aurigae stars.
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Cite this article
"Auriga." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Auriga." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Auriga.html "Auriga." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Auriga.html |
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Auriga
Auriga
•blagger, bragger, dagger, flagger, Jagger, lagger, nagger, quagga, saggar, shagger, stagger, swagger
•alga, realgar, Trafalgar
•anger, clangour (US clangor), Katanga, languor, manga, panga, sangar, tanga, Tauranga, Zamboanga
•sandbagger • carpetbagger • Erlanger
•Aga, Braga, dagga, dargah, laager, lager, naga, Onondaga, raga, saga
•beggar, eggar, Gregor, mega, Megger
•Edgar • Helga • Heidegger
•bootlegger
•Jaeger, maigre, Meleager, Noriega, Ortega, rutabaga, Sagar
•Antigua, beleaguer, bodega, eager, intriguer, leaguer, meagre (US meager), reneger, Riga, Seeger, Vega
•chigger, configure, digger, figure, Frigga, jigger, ligger, rigger, rigor, rigour, snigger, swigger, transfigure, trigger, vigour (US vigor)
•churinga, finger, linger, malinger
•gravedigger • ladyfinger • forefinger
•omega • vinegar • Honegger
•outrigger • Minnesinger
•Auriga, Eiger, liger, saiga, taiga, tiger
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"Auriga." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Auriga." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Auriga.html "Auriga." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Auriga.html |
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