The newly discovered eclipsing supergiant 22 Vulpeculae

Spectra obtained with the IUE satellite have led to the discovery that 22 Vul is an atmospheric eclipsing binary belonging to the zeta Aurigae class of stars. The system is the first found with a G-type primary (G3 Ib-II), while the spectral type of the secondary is the latest (B9) and its period is the shortest (249 days) of any of the classical members of the group. Out-of-eclipse spectra, atmospheric eclipse phases and totality observations are discussed. Comparisons are made with other systems.