A Search for RR Lyrae Variables in NGC 147

Repeated deep CCD observations of a field in the Local Group dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 147 have been compared, and 34 variable stars have been found. Light curves of 13 of these have been obtained. Periods and shapes indicate that nine of these 13 are RR Lyrae stars. The intensity-averaged phase-weighted-mean g magnitude is 25.15 (+0.17 or -0.15), which implies, after correction for extinction, that the distance modulus to NGC 147 is 23.85 (+0.22 or -0.20), or 589 kpc, as compared to Pritchet and van den Bergh's (1987) distance of 738 kpc for M31.