VARIABLE-STARS IN THE LEO A DWARF GALAXY (DDO-69)

Observations of the Leo A dwarf galaxy, obtained over the period from 1980 to 1991 are reported. Forty two separate CCD frames were searched for variable stars. A total of 14 suspected variables were found, 9 h ad sufficient coverage for period determination, and 5 had Cepheid lig ht curves. Four of these stars fit well on a P-L relation and yield a distance modulus, after correction for Galactic foreground extinction, of m - M = 26.74. This corresponds to a distance of 2.2 Mpc, placing Leo A near the Local Group zero-velocity surface.