Suspect Variable

[John Murrell <JohnMurrell@compuserve.com>]

Mike G reported the following:

> While characterizing the flat compensation program I discovered a
> candidate variable star.  It's coordinates (J2000) are:
> 
> RA   = 36.5101 degrees = 2h 26m 02.4s
> Dec = -0.1785 degrees = -0d 10m 42s
> 
> These are the magnitudes recorded by my system:
> 
> Night I       V       I       
> 371   7.008           6.600   
> 373           12.059  6.494   
> 374   6.974   11.891  6.465   
> 376           11.603  6.378   
> 377           11.436  6.303   
> 
> This is a very red star, V-I is > 5!  I wasn't able to find this
> candidate in the general catalog of variable stars.  Does anyone have
> information about this star?
> 
> Mike G.

1 think that this is the following star
GSC4691:926 

or R Cet 

This has coordinates RA  2h 26m 2.5s - Dec 0d 10m 43s 
Magnitude 7.2 to 14.1 
Period 166.24 days 
Type M4E - M9 
 
This would seem fairly red !

Details from Megastar

John Murrell
Croydon Astronomical Society, UK