ON THE NATURE OF WX-CETI

WX Ceti is a large amplitude (8 mag) variable which has undergone at least four outbursts during this century. Bailey has suggested that this object may be related to WZ Sge, and is part of a small but distinct subgroup of dwarf novae. We have obtained spectroscopy of WX Cet at minimum light, revealing extremely strong, broad Balmer emisson, but no He IIλ 4686. The spectrum indeed resembles WZ Sge at minimum, although it lacks the broad Balmer absorptions of the latter object. Our data confirm the cataclysmic variable nature of WX Cet, and indicate that the proposed association with WZ Sge is plausible. © 1981 Royal Astronomical Society.