Its spectral class is type S because it shows absorption bands of zirconium monoxide (ZrO) in its spectrum.

Those stars contract and expand regularly, changing size and temperature, and this causes the brightness variations.

On this older classification system for S stars, the number after the comma is an indication of the relative strength of ZrO and TiO bands which used to be considered to show the C:O ratio.

These stars undergo dredge-up events which cause convection of fusion products to the surface and anomalies such as enhanced carbon and zirconium.

[8] Other measurements based on the spectral energy distribution of the star give a luminosity of 6,000 L☉ and a very cool temperature of 1,900 K,[7] which imply a very large radius of 730 R☉.