Revisiting Variable Stars Toward the Globular Cluster <scp>NGC</scp> 6496 With <scp>ATLAS</scp> and Gaia Photometry

ABSTRACT We revisit 13 variable stars in the field of the metal‐rich globular cluster NGC 6496, discovered by Abbas et al. (2015; Astronomical Journal 149:40) (hereafter referred to as “MA15”) via time‐series data, spanning 2 years. We improve upon the MA15 characterization of the variables using ATLAS time‐series photometry data, spanning 8 years, in the survey's custom cyan and orange filters. We search the Gaia Data Release 3 Variability Catalogue (2022) for additional variable objects within the 4.8‐arcmin tidal radius of the cluster, finding that 11 of the 13 MA15 variables appear, along with 14 new “Gaia” variables. We access the Gaia proper motions in RA and Dec, the color index, the mean magnitude, and the radial velocity for each of the variables to assess cluster membership, finding that six variable stars are members and one is a possible member of NGC 6496. Finally, we report updated photometry, periods, and classifications of the variables discussed.