A Survey for Red Variables in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

One LMC and two SMC fields of 0.3 sq. deg. have been searched for red variables. Carbon stars of V ~ 16–17 are common and are usually of small amplitude, while the LMC alone contains numerous faint M type variables of small amplitude. M giants of small amplitude generally have much shorter periods than carbon stars. The LMC contains numerous Miras with a P-L relation similar to that of galactic Miras, while the SMC has few Miras but many bright red variables of large amplitude which have a steeper P-L relation.