Homogeneous photometry for star clusters and resolved galaxies. I. A survey of bright stars in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present accurate photometry on the Johnson B, Kron-Cousins R photometric system for approximately 100,000 stars in a 1/3 deg(2) field centered on the dwarf spheroidal galaxy in Fornax. We identify numerous probable short-period variable stars, blue stars that appear to be the main sequence of a small population with an age of order 10(8) yr, and two distinct types of luminous red star: an extended sequence of primarily carbon stars and a clump of mostly M giants slightly more luminous than the giant-branch tip. The spatial distribution of each of these subpopulations within the Fornax dwarf galaxy is considered.