In 1974 LP Andromedae, known then as IRC+40540, was identified as a carbon star and also shown to be variable.[9] It had previously been suspected of variability during the 2 Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). A detailed study of its spectrum showed an unusually cool star with a basic class of C8, and Swan band strength of 3.5. It also showed strong C13 isotopic bands.[4] The period was narrowed down to around 614 days, one of the longest periods known for a Mira variable.[10]
This star has a dusty envelope with an estimated mass of 3.2 M☉, fueled by the star itself which is losing mass at a rate 1.9×10−5M☉/yr. Such a high mass loss rate should place LP Andromedae close to the end of its asymptotic giant branch evolution. The envelope extends to a distance of 3 parsec from the star, and is mainly made of silicon carbide and carbon particles.[8]
^ abDatabase entry, The Catalina Surveys periodic variable star catalog. (Drake+, 2014), A. J. Drake et al., CDS ID J/ApJS/213/9 Accessed on line 2018-11-14.
^ abCutri, Roc M.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Beichman, Charles A.; Carpenter, John M.; Chester, Thomas; Cambresy, Laurent; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Huchra, John P.; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Light, Robert M.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Stiening, Rae; Sykes, Matthew J.; Weinberg, Martin D.; Wheaton, William A.; Wheelock, Sherry L.; Zacarias, N. (2003). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: 2MASS All-Sky Catalog of Point Sources (Cutri+ 2003)". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2246: II/246. Bibcode:2003yCat.2246....0C.
^Alksnis, A. (1989). "On the Variability of the Dusty Carbon Star LP and". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 3396: 1. Bibcode:1989IBVS.3396....1A.
