Mira's role in RR Tel revisited

The present uvby data, IUE FES measurements and American Association of Variable Star Observers visual estimates of the very slow nova RR Tel show that the object has gone through periodic variations in visual light since it started fading in 1949 after the outburst it incurred in 1944. The period is, however, not constant, and varies between 350 and 410 days, confirming Mayall's (1957) statement and contradicting the conclusions of later investigators. Synchronized variations of a Mira in the infrared and of a blue component indicate that the Mira mass outflow probably varies in a phase with its pulsations. Large variations occur in visual light on a time scale of a few weeks.