Epsilon Aurigae
2009 Eclipse Predictions

The 2009 eclipse predictions are based on the 1982 - 1984 eclipse. Because the first and fourth contact points were at out-of-season times (when epsilon Aurigae was close to the Sun in alignment) and because of the large variations in out-of-eclipse data, the precise times cannot be calculated.

Our official predictions are as follows:

1st Contact: JD= 2,455,055
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

2nd Contact: JD= 2,455,185
Saturday, 19 December 2009

Mid Eclipse: JD= 2,455,413
Wednesday. 04 August 2010

3rd Contact: JD= 2,455,640
Saturday, 19 March 2011

4th Contact: JD= 2,455,695
Friday 13 May 2011

It should be noted that from the previous eclipse it appears the 1st contact at the longer wavelengths could be two weeks or more earlier.

From the 1982 - 1984 eclipse the following data was determined. The contact items were determined by using an out-of-eclipse average magnitude for each band and drawing an ingress and egress line. An average totality was also determined. The intersection of the ingress and egress slopes with the average out-of-eclipse and totality determined the contact points. Period is assumed at 9885 days.

V Data:

Average Out-of-Eclipse Magnitude was assumed to be 3.03
Average Totality was assumed to be 3.73

Ingress 142 days
Totality 447 days
Egress 65 days
Total Eclipse: 654 days

2009 1st Contact
JD= 2,455,043
Thursday, 30 July 2009

B Data:

Average Out-of-Eclipse Magnitude was assumed to be 3.61
Average Totality was assumed to be 4.32

Ingress 135 days
Totality 437 days
Egress 71 days
Total Eclipse: 643 days

2009 1st Contact
JD= 2,455,055
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

U Data:

Average Out-of-Eclipse Magnitude was assumed to be 3.73
Average Totality was assumed to be 4.57

Ingress 120 days
Totality 455 days
Egress days
Total Eclipse: 630 days

2009 1st Contact
JD= 2,455,065
Friday, 21 August 2009

JD 2,440,000 +