Luminous late-type stars in NGC 205.

Broad band VRI and narrow band CCD frames of the central region of NGC 205, which is the dwarf elliptical companion of the Andromeda galaxy, are used to isolate TiO and CN, as well as to separate M and carbon stars unambiguously. Seven carbon stars were found, together with 21 late-M stars whose spectral types were as cool as about M5. If the relative numbers of carbon and M giants are solely correlated with metallicity, the metal abundance of NGC 205 lies in the range of that of the Magellanic Clouds. The presence of carbon stars in NGC 205 implies that star formation has been ongoing, but at a higher rate currently than in the past.