Stellarium Answering a 190-year old astronomical question Epsilon Aurigae was first given serious, systematic, scientific scrutiny in 1821. Early modern astronomers correctly classified it as an eclipsing binary variable star, with an invisible partner that will periodically dim the light as it eclipses the main star from the perspective of Earth. This happens every 27 years, and Epsilon Aurigae's apparent brightness drops for a period of more than a year. Over the years, different ideas have come and gone. For the latter case to be correct, then the orbit of the disk around the darker companion star would have to be in the same plane as the orbit of the darker object (companion star) around Epsilon Aurigae, which would in turn have to be the exact same plane as Earth's vantage point in order to produce the sequence of events we observe here on Earth.
SUN NASA'S New Look NASA's New Eye on the Sun Delivers Stunning First Images View related briefing materials here. NASA's recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, is returning early images that confirm an unprecedented new capability for scientists to better understand our sun’s dynamic processes. These solar activities affect everything on Earth. Some of the images from the spacecraft show never-before-seen detail of material streaming outward and away from sunspots. "These initial images show a dynamic sun that I had never seen in more than 40 years of solar research,” said Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. A full-disk multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet image of the sun taken by SDO on March 30, 2010. Launched on Feb. 11, 2010, SDO is the most advanced spacecraft ever designed to study the sun. SDO will provide critical data that will improve the ability to predict these space weather events. View related briefing materials here.