\magnification=1200 \hsize=4in \overfullrule=0pt \input amssym %\def\frac#1 #2 {{#1\over #2}} \def\emph#1{{\it #1}} \def\em{\it} \nopagenumbers \noindent % % {\bf Craig Timmons} % % \medskip \noindent % % {\bf Star Coloring High Girth Planar Graphs} % % \vskip 5mm \noindent % % % % A {\it star coloring} of a graph is a proper coloring such that no path on four vertices is 2-colored. We prove that every planar graph with girth at least 9 can be star colored using 5 colors, and that every planar graph with girth at least 14 can be star colored using 4 colors; the figure 4 is best possible. We give an example of a girth 7 planar graph that requires 5 colors to star color. \bye .