Bright variables in dwarf spheroidal galaxies

Arguments are presented which suggest that the unusual ''bright variables'' observed in Draco and other dwarf spheroidals are more massive than the RR Lyrae variables in the same systems. Models of very metal-poor stars (10-5>Z>10-4) on the horizontal branch with masses up to 2 M/sub sun/ confirm this interpretation in the sense that both the luminosities and the period-luminosity relation of the models are consistent with the observations of the bright variables. Best fit is obtained for Yapprox. =0.25 and Zapprox. =7--8x10-5. Some implications of the presence of stars about 1x109 years old in dwarf spheroidal galaxies are briefly discussed