Luminous variables in the Quintuplet cluster

sWe 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 Wo lf-Rayet stars, are seen to vary slowly with moderate amplitude (0.4-0.5 ma g). The bright star within the 'Pistol' H II region, suspected of being a l uminous blue variable (LBV), has in fact been found to show variability, co nfirming its tentative classification. A Second nearby presumed LBV also va ries. One of the apparent Quintuplet members is likely to be a Mira variabl e along the same line of sight.