A potential φ Per-type (Be plus sdO) binary:: FYCMa

The spectrum of the Be star FY CMa is shown to vary periodically with P = 37.26 +/- 0.03 d. The types of variation, exhibiting transient strong shell phases and a radial-velocity variable He. emission component, suggest the star to be of the same type as phi Per, i.e. having an evolved hot companion ionizing the outer parts of the primary's circumstellar disc where it faces the hot companion. After phi Per and the candidates 59 Cyg and HR 2142, this is only the fourth promising candidate, although such systems should be relatively abundant. The similarities found between phi Per, 59 Cyg, and FY CMa include a radial velocity-variable He. emission feature and a phase-locked V/R cycle. An ephemeris is given that allows a test of the proposed recurrent nature of a strong shell feature observed only in a single spectrum at present.