Luminous variables in the Quintuplet cluster

Abstract

We report observations of variability amongst the stars of the 'Quintuplet' cluster located about 30 pc in projection from the centre of the Galaxy. Two of the five cocoon star members, which may be protostars or peculiar Wolf-Rayet stars, are seen to vary slowly with moderate amplitude (0.4-0.5 mag). The bright star within the 'Pistol' HII region, suspected of being a luminous blue variable (LBV), has in fact been found to show variability, confirming its tentative classification. A second nearby presumed LBV also varies. One of the apparent Quintuplet members is likely to be a Mira variable along the same line of sight.