Surface imaging of long-period variable stars

The photospheric surfaces of five long-period variables (o Get, R Lee, W Hy a, X Cyg and R Gas) have been imaged in the optical/near-IR with the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope. All exhibit departures from circular symmetry. Our data are consistent with the presence of bright compact features, indiv idually contributing between 5 and 20 per cent of the total stellar flux, o n most of the stars. The characteristics and behaviour of the features are similar to those reported on the surfaces of late-type supergiants. However , the data presented here are inadequate to identify a common physical orig in.