JHKsIc photometry of AGB in Phoenix dwarf gal.

Combining these data with the optical photometry of Massey et al. (2007, Cat. <J/AJ/133/2393>) allows a rather clean separation of field stars from Phoenix members. The discovery of a Mira variable (P=425d), which is almost certainly a carbon star, leads to an estimate of the distance modulus of 23.10+/-0.18 that is consistent with other estimates and indicates the existence of a significant population of age ~2Gyr.

The two carbon stars of Da Costa have Mbol=-3.8 and are consistent with belonging to a population of similar age; some other possible members of such a population are identified. A Da Costa non-carbon star is {Delta}Ks~0.3mag brighter than these two carbon stars. It may be an asymptotic giant branch star of the dominant old population.