1999A&A...349..126M

We carried out an analysis of existing multicolor photometry and optical spectroscopy of MWC 342, a B[e] star with an uncertain evolutionary state. The star shows a gradual brightening in the optical and near-IR regions, while its Balmer lines demonstrate a relative stability of their shapes over the last 50 years. Recent high-resolution spectroscopic observations did not reveal the presence of photospheric lines. The hypotheses about the nature of MWC 342 suggested in the literature are briefly discussed. It is shown that the object's properties, such as the Balmer line profiles and shapes of the IR excess, are similar to those of several other B[e] stars including MWC 84 = CI Cam, which underwent a strong outburst in April 1998. We suggest that MWC 342 is likely to be an evolved object, perhaps a binary system with a compact secondary, which may also undergo an outburst in the nearest future.