Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the compact elliptical galaxy M32 reveals a dearth of carbon stars

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We present new Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/IR medium-band photometry of the compact elliptical galaxy M32, chemically resolving its thermally pulsating asymptotic giant branch stars.

• We find 2829 M-type stars and 57 C stars.
• The carbon stars are likely contaminants from M31.
• If carbon stars are present in M32 they are so in very low numbers.