A carbon star survey of the local group dwarf galaxies. I. IC 1613

We present results of a multifilter survey of the whole Magellanic-type gal axy IC 1613. Narrowband CN and TiO fiters are used to identify carbon stars among red giants. We have identified 195 carbon stars, extending up to 15' from the center of the galaxy. We present well-calibrated R and I magnitud es for ail stars. The large field surveyed allows a reliable foreground est imate of M stars, leading to a C/M ratio of 0.64, when giants as early as M O are counted. Analysis of the photometric properties of the C star populat ion reveals a narrow M-I distribution with a mean M-I of -4.69, with a disp ersion of +/-0.28. IC 1613 has, for its absolute magnitude, a normal number of C stars.