Variable Stars in the Fornax Dwarf Galaxy

Abstract

We present a search for variable stars in the Fornax dwarf galaxy covering an area of 1/2 a square degree. We have ~30 epochs of VI data. We found and determined periods for more than 500 RR Lyrae, 17 anomalous Cepheids, 6 Population II Cepheids. In addition we have 85 candidate Long Period Variables, the majority of which were previously unknown. We estimated that the average metal abundance of RR Lyrae stars is [Fe/H] ~ -1.6 dex.