Photometric Observations of the η Carinae 2009.0 Spectroscopic Event

We have observed η Carinae over 34 nights between 2009 January 4 and 2009 March 27 covering the estimated timeframe for a predicted spectroscopic event related to a suspected binary system concealed within the homunculus nebula. A photometric minimum feature was confirmed to be periodic and comparison to a previous event indicated that the period to within our error was 2022.6+/-1.0d. Using the E-region standard star system, the apparent V magnitudes determined for the local comparison stars were HD 303308 8.14+/-0.02, HD 93205 7.77+/-0.03, and HD 93162 8.22+/-0.05. The latter star was found to be dimmer than previously reported.