AS 357 Is a New Symbiotic Star

The article presents the results of spectroscopic observations of poorly studied variable star AS 357, proving that it is an S-type symbiotic star. The object’s spectrum contains TiO molecular bands; bright emission lines of H I, He I, [O II], [O III], [N II]; a weak line of He II; etc. Photometric observations show that the system is a long-period variable with a period of ~ 1pt 850ᵈ . This is likely the system’s orbital period. Estimates were obtained for the temperature of the hot component, Tₕ ≈ 55\,000 K, and its luminosity, Lₕ ≈ 1300 1pt L_ . The spectral class of the cold component is M3 III, with a luminosity of Lc = (2500- 3400) 1pt L_ and a radius of Rc = (130- 150) 1pt R_ . There is excess radiation in the short-wavelength region of the spectrum that can be attributed to an accretion disk around the hot component. The study is partially based on a talk presented at the Modern Stellar Astronomy 2025 conference.