Position and X-ray Variability of 2A 1704+241

We present results of analysis of observations of the X-ray source 2A 1704+241 with the Rosat Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) and the High Resolution Imager (HRI). 2A 1704+241 was first associated with the M3II star HD154791 (Garcia et al. 1983). The identification, based upon observation with the HEAO 1 SMC and the Einstein IPC, was unusual, because there is only one other X-ray binary associated with an M-giant star. Because of the superior spatial resolution of the PSPC and the HRI, we observed 2A 1704+241 with both instruments for 8 ksec and 10 ksec, respectively. Also, there seemed to be a 900-sec variability in the X-ray emission. Based upon the previous identification and determination of the position of MS 1703.7+2417, an AGN in the field (Stocke et al. 1991), we determine that the designation of HD154791 as the optical counterpart of 2A 1704+291 is correct. Furthermore, we determine that there is no evidence for the 900-sec modulation seen by the IPC.