Date: Tue, 27 Aug 02 15:00:11 CET From: ok2rea@prgate.sci.muni.cz (Kamil Hornoch) Subject: New variable star probably in M31 galaxy Dear colleagues, I will send message about discovery of a new variable star to vsnet-newvar mailing list. Many thanks, Kamil Hornoch Dear colleagues, I inform you about a new variable star in M31 or in foreground. I found the variable star with CCD observations with 0.35-m RL + CCD ST-6V + R filter made by me on 16./17.8. 2001, 3./4.8. 2002, 17./18.8. 2002, 25./26.8. 2002, 26./27.8. 2002 and from Digitized Sky Survey II red plates. On the DSS-II red plates (taken at epoch 1986.907 and 1989.749) the star is not present (no object brighter than R=20.5 mag). Closest star on the DSS-II red plates is about 2"-3" from position of the new variable with R-magnitude about 20.5-21 mag. I measured precise positions of the new variable from my CCD images: 00h 42m 30.9s +/- 0.1s +41d 06' 13" +/- 1" (Equinox J2000.) My photometry from 5 nights gave: 2001-08-16.958 R=17.9 mag 2002-08-04.013 R=17.0 mag 2002-08-17.952 R=17.1 mag 2002-08-25.859 R=18.1 mag 2002-08-26.850 R=18.0 mag On August 26.84 UT Peter Kusnirak, Ondrejov observatory, Czech Republic, made on my request 2x300s exposures using 0.65-m RL + CCD + R filter and 2x300s exposures with V filter. Atmospheric conditions was no good, but these snapshots confirmed drop of brightness of the star. Also shows, that V-R index of this variable is larger than of surrounding stars with comparable brightness, roughly estimated of about 1-1.5 mag. Probably large amplitude and large V-R index suggest, that it may be a Mira-type variable. Observations of this star by me will be continued. The variable is not present in the most recent GCVS vol. V nor in newvar.cat. Closest stars presented in newvar.cat (designated MLAxxx em, where xxx is 3-places number of the star) are more than 26" from the new variable. Best regards, Kamil Hornoch Lelekovice 393 664 31 Lelekovice Czech Republic hornoch@astro.sci.muni.cz