Electronic Telegram No. 1885 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html EPSILON AURIGAE E. O. Waagen, AAVSO, writes that R. Leadbeater, Wigton, U.K., reported (via the AAVSO Discussion Group) the spectroscopic detection of the start of a predicted eclipse for the long-period binary star epsilon Aur. The last eclipse was in 1982-1984. A redshifted component in the K I 769.9-nm line has appeared in LHIRES III observations obtained on July 20.081 UT, offset by +15 km/s and with 62-mA equivalent width. This emerging feature is uniquely associated with eclipse phases, wherein visual light declines by 0.75 mag over 18 months. Information on the international epsilon Aur eclipse campaign may be found at website URL http://www.citizensky.org. Selected visual magnitude estimates submitted to the AAVSO International Database: Apr. 28.818 UT, 2.9 (M. Rzepka, Krosno, Poland); May 23.233, 2.9 (P. Abbott, Leduc, Alberta, Canada); June 21.924, 2.9 (V. Makela, Helsinki, Finland); July 3.078, 2.9 (S. Baroni, Milan, Italy); 22.035, 3.0 (P. Maurer, Bad Friedichshall, Germany). H and J magnitudes submitted to the AAVSO International Database: Apr. 24.022, J = 1.77 (B. McCandless, Elkton, MD, U.S.A.); 24.043, H = 1.50 (McCandless); May 13.053, J = 1.83 (T. Rutherford, Blountville, TN, U.S.A.); 13.065, H = 1.53 (McCandless); 30.06, J = 1.85, H = 1.61 (Rutherford). BVRI magnitudes submitted to the AAVSO International Database: Apr. 24.07, V = 2.92, R = 2.51 (McCandless); 24.078, B = 3.45 (G. Samolyk, Greenfield, WI, U.S.A.); May 13.055, R = 2.38 (McCandless); July 3.961, V = 2.87, I_c = 2.21 (R. Miles, Stourton Caundle, Dorset, England); 20.026, I_c = 2.33 (Miles); 20.044, V = 3.03 (Miles). NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT 2009 July 27 (CBET 1885) Daniel W. E. Green