Symbiotic Stars Classification Program


Classification of symbiotic candidates from the New Online Database of Symbiotic Variables

PI of the project: Jaroslav Merc (Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic)

ARAS Forum

New Online Database of Symbiotic Variables


Last update: October 12, 2023

Project explanation

The aim of this program is to confirm or reject the symbiotic classification of several targets. Most of them was selected from the New Online Database of Symbiotic Variables. They are either considered as candidates, or are even classified as confirmed symbiotics in the published literature or databases such as SIMBAD, GCVS, etc. Some of the program stars are newly discovered objects. Many of these star, however, have never been observed spectroscopically, which is requiered for the definitive symbiotic classification.

The magnitudes of the stars listed in the tables should be considered only as aproximative. Usually, it is only average brightness and symbiotic objects are typically variable. Moreover, some which may seem to be faint in V band, are much brighter in red (typically if the extinction is high), therefore useful data are obtained also for these targets using small telescopes.

Legend to campaign status

No spectrum: Stars desirable to observe; No spectra have been obtained yet


Observe: Stars which already have been observed at least once; New spectra are needed (to resolve discrepancies or to provide additional pieces of evidence); For interesting targets, it is good to have at least two independent observations by two observers


Finished: Stars for which the obtained spectra are sufficient to draw conclusions; Not needed to observe


Published: The results of the observations are already published; Link to the paper is included



Classical symbiotic stars (Z And-type) candidates

Object Constellation RA DEC V [mag] G [mag] BP-RP [mag] Notes for observers Status Preliminary results
WRAY 15-1167 Cen 14:03:18.65 -58:09:34.93 13.0 12.6 3.0 Known symbiotic star in brightening Published First confirmed Z And-type outburst of this star
THA 15-31 Sco 16:08:36.90 -40:16:20.48 14.9 12.9 3.7 Newly-discovered accreting-only symbiotic star, Only 2012 spectrum; Faint in blue; Crowded region Published Balmer lines, He I; no He II
2MASS J07363415+6538548 Cam 07:36:34.14 +64:38:54.86 15.7 15.4 1.6 Faint target; In the field of NGC 2403 Published Active red dwarf
AS 280 Sgr 18:09:52.31 -33:19:50.00 13.1 12.9 0.6 Previously only emission lines with low ionization potential (possible outburt?) Observe Limited range of spectrum; Balmer lines, He I; New observations needed
EC 19249-7343 Pav 19:31:02.32 -73:37:07.64 12.9 12.1 2.3 Very high proper motion Published Non-symbiotic binary
Hen 3-860 Cen 13:06:12.92 -53:22:52.50 14.8 13.2 3.0 Emission-line star; Symbiotic outburst (2017-2019)? Eclipsing? (possible period around 600d) Published Confirmed symbiotic binary
Hen 4-137 Cen 13:35:57.56 -51:12:14.69 9.1 7.8 2.8 Bright target Finished No emission lines in spectrum
Hen 4-204 Gru 22:45:01.42 -44:52:38.52 9.7 8.8 2.3 Bright target Published Possible accreting-only system similar to BD Cam
IRAS 19050+0001 Aql 19:07:37.43 +00:06:09.11 14.3 11.9 6.2 High extinction; Mira pulsator (period 415d) Published Single Mira
LkHA 316 Ori 05:47:35.76 +00:38:39.88 14.8 14.0 2.6 Possible symbiotic star or YSO Observe Balmer lines, possibly [O III], [S II]; Spectrum with higher S/N needed
LP Sgr Sgr 18:28:00.92 -27:40:25.32 15.0 13.1 5.3 High extinction; Mira pulsator in the vicinity of V1988 Sgr (period 220d) Published Single Mira
PN K1-6 Dra 20:04:14.28 +74:25:35.93 12.6 12.3 1.4 Central star of a PN; 21.3d variability Published Non-symbiotic binary
RT Car Car 10:44:47.13 -59:24:48.08 8.6 6.9 3.3 Bright target in crowded region; High extinction Finished No emission lines in spectrum
V1017 Cyg Cyg 19:56:15.82 +53:19:12.12 15.3 15.0 1.0 Published W UMa binary (period 0.33d)
V1988 Sgr Sgr 18:27:57.31 -27:37:23.11 12.7 9.2 5.0 Crowded region; High extinction Published Not a burning symbiotic star; Might be accreting-only system
V2204 Oph Oph 18:26:01.92 +11:55:09.53 13.6 13.6 1.9 Two possible outbursts in past Published Confirmed yellow symbiotic star
V379 Peg Peg 23:53:50.82 +23:09:18.09 15.2 14.0 2.5 Published Red dwarf
V562 Lyr Lyr 18:31:13.82 +46:58:34.66 11.8 10.9 2.2 Published Single red giant
V748 Cen Cen 14:59:36.67 -33:25:04.14 11.9 11.1 0.9 Eclipsing system (period around 570d) Finished Balmer lines + faint Fe II in emission, F-type continuum
WRAY 16-51 Vel 09:33:29.55 -46:3:50.91 13.6 10.7 5.0 M star with emission lines? Bright target; High-extinction Finished Balmer lines in emission
V893 Cen Cen 14:00:29.30 -62:47:09.31 11.9 14.0 6.6 Photometric appearance similar to RR Tel? Crowded field; High extinction Finished Very red star; No emission lines
VX Crv Crv 12:21:52.48 -13:53:10.26 12.8 12.9 5.0 Mira pulsator (period 221d; maximum in August 2022); High extinction Observe Spectrum obtained after minimum (March, 2022); No emission lines; Another spectrum near maximum?
V345 Nor Nor 16:06:51.68 -52:04:34.92 14.1 9.4 6.9 Mira pulsator (period 573d, maximum in December 2022); High extinction Observe Spectrum obtained after minimum (April, 2022); Halpha in emission; Another spectrum near maximum?
V850 Aql Aql 19:23:34.67 +00:37:58.46 15.0 13.9 6.7 Mira pulsator (period 388d, maximum in April 2022); High extinction Observe Spectrum in maximum (April 2022); No emission lines
V1290 Aql Aql 19:46:31.86 +10:47:02.75 15.0 14.1 6.0 Mira pulsator (maximum in March 2022, December 2022); High extinction Finished Single Mira; No emission lines in minimum (July 2022)
V503 Her Her 17:36:40.45 +23:18:11.60 12.6 12.1 1.6 Suspected symbiotic star; Possibly eclipsing; Star with similar colours nearby (TYC 2076-1319-1) Finished Semiregularly pulsating star; Paper submitted
TCP J18224935-2408280 Sgr 18:22:49.45 -24:08:29.34 15.2 14.4 2.5 Transient coincident with a long-period variable Published New symbiotic star detected in outburst
SS73 141 Sgr 18:12:11.34 -33:10:42.59 12.5 13.5 2.8 Known symbiotic star in brightening Published First confirmed Z And-type outburst of this star
StHa 63 Mon 07:58:05.88 -07:43:55.61 13.5 13.0 1.7 Suggested to be a yellow symbiotic star Finished Low S/N; Balmer lines, He I, [O III]
SBSS 0802+529 Lyn 08:05:47.96 +52:46:28.32 13.1 13.9 5.8 Mira pulsator (period 382d; next maximum November 2022); High extinction Finished Balmer lines in emission? No other prominent emission lines
TYC 2076-1319-1 Her 17:36:35.53 +23:17:32.10 11.7 11.9 1.4 Target in the close vicinity of V503 Her Finished Single K4 giant
TYC 2076-1251-1 Her 17:36:50.50 +23:15:38.42 12.2 12.1 -0.1 UV source in the close vicinity of V503 Her Finished Single B9 dwarf
2MASS J01090044+5203369 Cas 01:09:00.44 +52:03:36.88 12.5 11.7 2.1 Observe No emission lines in the low-res spectrum (R~300). Reobserve with higher resolution?
DT Psc Psc 01:14:04.98 +28:31:45.60 7.5 5.4 2.4 Very bright target Finished S star; No emission
AL 4 Hyi 03:23:28.94 -72:43:37.16 14.8 14.7 0.0 Looks blue on images Finished No emission
DV Aur Aur 05:13:20.67 +34:37:04.10 11.8 9.4 3.8 Finished Late-type continuum; No emission
LkHA 295 Ori 05:45:48.81 -00:12:36.58 16.5 11.6 6.1 Highly reddened No spectrum
V520 Mon Mon 06:55:12.43 -01:28:53.53 12.1 12.5 0.5 Suggested to be an X-ray source Finished blue continuum, Balmer lines in emission - Be/X-ray binary
Hen 3-40 Pup 07:31:40.72 -41:35:20.74 12.4 11.1 2.1 Finished Possible accreting-only system; M-type continuum with emission lines of H I, He I, Fe II
SRGA J085040.6-421156 Vel 08:50:40.63 -42:11:55.68 14.5 13.4 3.1 Crowded region; Bright sources nearby No spectrum
ASASSN-17dm Vel 10:06:57.52 -47:43:41.91 14.1 12.7 3.1 Probably detected in outburst in 2017 No spectrum
HD 306070 Car 11:09:35.68 -60:31:49.15 10.3 10.3 0.6 Probably resolved binary, second component to the NW Finished Spectrum consisting of hot star continuum, cool star features and emission lines of H I, Fe II
Hen 3-653 Cen 11:25:32.74 -59:56:34.07 12.5 11.2 4.1 Finished M-type continuum with emission lines of H I, He I, [O III]; most probably acc-only SySt
BK Vir Vir 12:30:20.97 +04:24:58.69 8.1 4.8 4.6 Very bright target Finished M-type continuum; possible excess in blue
Hen 4-129 Cen 12:53:20.85 -47:10:51.95 9.6 8.1 2.7 S star Finished No emission lines
V957 Cen Cen 13:14:36.36 -31:25:10.54 11.8 10.3 2.7 Finished S star; No emission detected
2MASS J13203208-7014442 Mus 13:20:32.07 -70:14:44.39 14.2 13.9 1.4 Suggested to be an X-ray source No spectrum
LY Mus Mus 13:41:13.48 -71:52:05.18 7.0 5.4 3.1 Very bright target; S star Finished No emission lines
2MASS J15292939-5612133 Nor 15:29:29.37 -56:12:13.61 12.1 11.7 1.6 Bright source nearby; Suggested to be an X-ray source Finished G-type continuum; No emission
NSV 7538 Nor 16:14:28.70 -53:36:11.69 17.5 12.2 5.5 Crowded region; Reddened source No spectrum
HD 330993 Ara 16:35:28.72 -48:06:01.79 10.2 9.6 1.5 Suggested to be an X-ray source Finished G-type continuum; No emission
USNO-B1.0 0519-00593639 Sco 17:16:26.94 -38:00:07.54 15.0 12.5 4.1 Suggested to be an X-ray source No spectrum
KW Sco Sco 17:17:28.07 -40:22:56.46 12.8 10.7 6.7 Very red target No spectrum
WRAY 16-294 Oph 17:39:13.80 -25:38:05.17 14.5 15.0 3.4 Reddened target No spectrum
XX Oph Oph 17:43:56.50 -06:16:08.84 8.9 8.1 2.0 Finished Balmer lines, lowly ionized metals; Spectrum similar to V694 Mon?
HD 161224 Oph 17:44:26.34 -02:04:48.12 9.4 9.0 1.5 Finished G-type continuum; No emission
Sa 2-237 Ser 17:44:42.15 -15:45:12.55 14.5 14.8 1.3 No spectrum
AS 241 Sco 17:45:14.23 -38:17:25.93 15.8 14.4 3.0 Crowded region Finished Early M-type continuum; H I and He I in emission
HD 161213 Sco 17:46:06.12 -38:41:45.82 9.4 9.1 1.4 Finished No emission lines; G-type continuum
CXOGBS J175233.2-293944 Sgr 17:52:33.28 -29:39:45.56 11.1 11.1 1.7 Suggested to be an X-ray source Observe Spectrum with low S/N without apparent emission
V5485 Sgr Sgr 18:03:34.96 -29:59:49.14 16.3 14.6 3.4 Faint in crowded region; Highly reddened No spectrum
V589 Sgr Sgr 18:05:17.18 -34:44:46.78 14.6 14.4 3.1 Crowded region No spectrum
V4073 Sgr Sgr 18:08:19.12 -22:57:18.81 13.6 13.3 1.1 Crowded region No spectrum
IRAS 18067-2746 Sgr 18:09:51.05 -27:46:00.79 13.0 12.7 1.2 Crowded region No spectrum
AS 288 Sgr 18:12:47.98 -28:19:59.81 14.2 13.6 1.2 Crowded region No spectrum
IRAS 18120+4530 Her 18:13:29.44 +45:31:17.70 16.9 11.9 4.0 Mira pulsator; Highly reddened Finished Late-type continuum; H I in emission
V371 CrA CrA 18:16:35.37 -39:12:37.89 12.8 13.5 4.3 Crowded region; Suggested to be an X-ray source Finished M-type; Halpha in emission - Mira or Acc-only SySt?
PN K4-4 Oph 18:44:10.50 +06:46:55.03 10.4 14.7 4.5 No spectrum
Hu 2-1 Her 18:49:47.56 +20:50:39.27 13.3 12.8 0.3 Finished PN-like spectrum; No cool star detectable in optical
Sab 53 Aql 19:04:38.65 +02:14:24.13 15.3 14.5 2.2 No spectrum
IRAS 19096+0232 Aql 19:12:09.12 +02:37:57.08 14.9 12.5 5.3 Highly reddened Finished Late M-type; No emission
PN K4-21 Aql 19:14:30.39 +10:50:45.57 15.1 12.3 7.1 Highly reddened No spectrum
PN K3-28 Aql 19:15:21.47 +02:33:01.96 11.2 12.5 6.3 Highly reddened No spectrum
PN K4-22 Aql 19:17:48.24 +02:49:14.40 12.5 12.9 3.7 Nearby source of similar brightness No spectrum
KIC 4918300 Lyr 19:20:29.88 +40:00:01.20 13.7 12.8 2.3 Finished Late-type continuum; No emission
V335 Vul Vul 19:23:14.14 +24:27:39.61 11.8 11.1 3.4 Finished Carbon star; H I in emission
2MASS J19274650+3841111 Lyr 19:27:46.49 +38:41:11.09 13.5 12.0 2.9 Finished M-type continuum; No emission
PN K4-35 Vul 19:48:53.39 +20:07:07.65 11.9 12.4 5.7 Crowded region; Highly reddened No spectrum
PN K4-39 Vul 19:53:05.75 +23:13:35.97 8.8 14.4 4.5 Highly reddened No spectrum
OY Cyg Cyg 19:54:43.85 +39:17:57.72 13.2 10.6 4.2 Finished M-type continuum; No emission
PN K4-42 Vul 20:06:40.71 +25:00:11.43 14.2 13.7 5.0 Nearby sources of similar brightness No spectrum
2MASS J17151982-3133534 Sco 17:15:18.81 -31:33:59.53 14.7 11.7 4.7 Wrongly identified with WRAY 15-1655 No spectrum
PN K4-54 Cyg 20:42:53.28 +45:56:31.04 15.2 14.4 5.0 Nearby source; High reddening No spectrum
EC 20504-2232 Cap 20:53:20.13 -22:20:47.56 14.5 14.1 1.5 Finished Continuum rising towards blue; H I in emission

Symbiotic novae candidates

Object Constellation RA DEC V [mag] G [mag] BP-RP [mag] Notes for observers Status Preliminary results
HH Sge Sge 20:06:48.36 +20:41:55.72 11.8 11.4 1.4 Finished Single K subgiant
V618 Sgr Sgr 18:07:57.21 -36:29:52.4 10.0 13.0 4.1 High extinction; Eclipsing? (period around 700d; next eclipse August 2022) Published Symbiotic nova in outburst; Follow-up observations are usefull
V5590 Sgr Sgr 18:11:03.67 -27:17:29.45 13.0 12.3 1.7 Finished Confirmed symbiotic nova
ASAS J174600-2321.3 Oph 17:46:00.18 -23:21:16.41 13.0 11.7 1.7 Crowded region; Eclipsing (period of 1012d; next eclipse in September 2023) Finished Spectrum of a symbiotic nova in outburst
2MASS J01093484-0800329 Cet 01:09:34.84 -08:00:33.10 15.1 14.8 0.9 Finished Balmer lines, He I, He II, [O III] lines
TYC 1371-69-1 Gem 07:57:31.12 +20:17:34.67 10.6 9.9 2.2 Bright target Finished No emission lines; Possible post-symbiotic nova
V917 Sco Sco 17:48:04.27 -36:08:17.42 15.0 13.6 3.4 Crowded region Finished One spectrum in the database is of different object; Emission lines up to [Fe VII]
V627 Cas Cas 22:57:40.96 +58:49:12.50 10.9 9.8 4.1 Bright target Finished Balmer lines + Fe II only?

Gaia-alerted targets

Object Constellation RA DEC V [mag] G [mag] BP-RP [mag] Notes for observers Status Preliminary results
Gaia22agq Nor 16:15:17.94 -50:52:19.99 17.5 13.5 7.1 Classified as a blue supergiant star (IRAS 16115-5044); High extinction & crowded region Finished Featureless continuum
Gaia22aed Lup 16:20:03.00 -36:38:15.50 13.1 12.1 1.9 Symbiotic star candidate (Hen 3-1179) Observe Balmer lines only, another spectrum later?
Gaia19dxh Sgr 19:20:34.95 -13:37:11.96 13.7 11.7 3.7 Finished Pulsating RG
Gaia19dpl Cen 13:12:12.26 -48:58.38.71 14.4 12.1 1.3 Finished Pulsating RG
Gaia21dxi Sco 17:48:27.35 -44:11:38.04 13.9 12.6 1.4 Finished Pulsating RG
Gaia20fut Vel 08:51:30.36 -44:40:09.91 14.3 13.1 2.3 Finished K-type star? No emission
Gaia18ctm Mus 13:47:13.51 -70:10:12.76 16.2 13.6 4.4 Finished Pulsating RG
Gaia18cwv Sco 17:52:47.77 -34:31:21.83 14.9 13.7 3.9 Crowded region No spectrum
Gaia18bec Scu 18:33:42.40 -14:13:52.03 13.5 14.0 4.3 Crowded region, bright nearby source; Possible Mira pulsator Finished M-type continuum; Possible Halpha in emission
Gaia18cfh Sgr 17:44:15.19 -25:15:40.64 14.0 14.1 2.1 Finished Late K/early M-type continuum; No emission lines
Gaia21axn Sgr 18:05:44.31 -24:33:32.44 15.2 14.9 4.0 High extinction No spectrum
Gaia19bpg Cyg 21:41:50.43 +51:55:45.48 15.1 13.5 5.5 Bright source nearby; High extinction Observe Possible symbiotic nova; long-term monitoring
Gaia23clr Sgr 18:17:20.27 -28:09:49.43 11.4 11.8 1.8 Known symbiotic star V2905 Sgr in outburst detected by Gaia Published Confirmed Z And-type outburst
Gaia23ckh Sco 17:47:04.90 -35:59:28.93 14.1 12.3 3.5 Star V390 Sco classified as Mira in the literature in a peculiar brightening Observe Probable symbiotic star; H I, He I and Fe II in emission
Gaia23cse Lyr 19:50:33.32 +30:28:22.40 15.2 11.8 4.5 Erratic brightening in a red source; bluer in the outburst Observe Only H I in spectrum

47 Tuc candidates

Candidates selected from the paper of Saeedi et al. (2021). All candidates presented in the first version of the paper are listed. In the published version, only Src 438 is classified as possible symbiotic star.

Object Constellation RA DEC V [mag] G [mag] BP-RP [mag] Notes for observers Status Preliminary results
Src 196 Tuc 00:20:26.49 -71:55:55.19 13.1 12.7 1.4 Not in the second version of paper; Far from the centre Finished G-type continuum; No emission
Src 320 Tuc 00:22:26.18 -72:06:43.71 13.8 13.6 1.1 Possible CV in the second version of the paper; Very crowded region No spectrum
Src 378 Tuc 00:23:19.17 -71:48:35.59 14.1 13.8 1.2 Possible CV/active binary in the second version of the paper; Two sources 2.8   arcsec away No spectrum
Src 379 Tuc 00:23:20.37 -71:58:59.48 13.9 13.6 1.3 Not in the second version of the paper; Very crowded region No spectrum
Src 438 Tuc 00:24:03.39 -71:55:47.36 11.7 11.1 1.8 Strongest candidate; Bright source in relatively crowded region Finished K-type continuum; No emission
Src 461 Tuc 00:24:24.89 -72:09:25.60 13.1 13.1 1.4 Not in the second version of the paper; Very crowded region No spectrum
Src 486 Tuc 00:24:45.84 -72:09:10.50 12.5 12.1 1.5 Possible CV/active binary in the second version of the paper; Very crowded region Finished M-type continuum; No emission
Src 487 Tuc 00:24:48.01 -72:12:33.65 - 14.0 1.2 Not in the second version of the paper; Relatively crowded region No spectrum
Src 501 Tuc 00:24:56.94 -72:06:54.87 - 13.6 1.2 Possible CV in the second version of the paper; Very crowded region Finished Hot continuum; No emission
Src 518 Tuc 00:25:14.22 -72:19:05.64 - 13.9 1.1 Not in the second version of the paper; Far from the centre Finished Relative hot continuum; No strong emission
Src 527 Tuc 00:25:22.48 -72:11:55.34 - 12.1 1.6 Not in the second version of the paper; Relatively crowded region Finished G-type continuum
Src 556 Tuc 00:25:44.20 -72:18:53.57 13.1 12.8 1.3 RS CVn contact binary in the second version of the paper; Far from the centre Finished G-type continuum; No emission
Src 568 Tuc 00:25:57.54 -72:07:52.81 12.8 12.3 1.5 Not in the second version of the paper; Relatively crowded region No spectrum