THE OPTICAL AND NEAR-INFRARED COUNTERPART OF IRAS 18476+2054 1

We present here, for the rst time, an optical and near-infrared (NIR) identication for the previously unstudied IRAS PSC source 18476+2054. Direct imaging in BVRICiJKs and optical spectroscopy were obtained. The optical counterpart is identied as a variable star of Mira class|M7 or later giant or supergiant|with a mid infrared excess compared to \normal" Miras having such a short period. The (V IC) is remarkably high, although the (B V ) gives no indication for circumstellar extinction driving a reddening. The V [12] color shows a mid-infrared excess. The photometries obtained here and the sky survey plates allow us to estimate a period of 145 days and an unusually low amplitude for such a late spectroscopic type of V = 2: m 5 0: 2.