Photometric Variability among the Brightest Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars near the Center of M32

Deep K' images with 0.1 arcsec angular resolution, obtained with ALTAIR+NIRIon Gemini North, are used to investigate photometric variablity among thebrightest asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the central regions of M32.Based on a comparison with brightnesses obtained from the K-band data discussedby Davidge et al. (2000, ApJ, 545, L89), it is concluded that (1) at least 60%of bright AGB stars near the center of M32 are photometrically variable, and(2) the amplitudes of the light variations are similar to those of long periodvariables in the Galactic bulge. We do not find evidence for a population oflarge amplitude variables, like those detected by IRAS in the Galactic bulge.The technique discussed here may prove useful for conducting an initialreconnaisance of photometric variability among AGB stars in spheroids in theVirgo cluster and beyond, where the required long exposure times may restrictobservations to only a few epochs.Comment: 8 pages of text, 3 postscript figures. ApJ (letters) in pres