COMMISSION 27 OF THE I.A.U.
             INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                           NUMBER 97

                                           Konkoly Observatory
                                           Budapest
                                           3 June 1965


                 UNUSUAL VARIABLE S 5420 AURIGAE-

                     NOVA AURIGAE 1960-1964

      In IBVS No.93. C. Hoffmeister makes the assumption that variable
S 5420 Aurigae is a Nova of RT Serpentis-type.

      The star has been investigated on 116 plates of the Sternberg
Astronomical Institute, Moscow (JD 2414691-2438500). Six rises of the
brightness have been found, the first one has occured in 1899-1900. The
results from Moscow plates and the estimates obtained by me in 1960 on
Sonneberg plates of the camera 140/700 mm after the discovery of the
variable are shown in the figure, together with Hoffmeister's estimate on
Palomar Sky Atlas, 1951 Nov. 3/4, and his observations published in IBVS
No.93 (1963 Jan. 17/18, 1964 Dec. 9 and 23, 1965 February and March).

      S 5420 Aurigae is apparently a blue variable of new type. Its
brightness varies between 11m.3 and 18m. A cycle of about 2500-3300 days
may be present in the light variations.

      S 5420 Aurigae lies in the direction of the anticentre of our
Galaxy, l^II=183, b^II=5.5.

      Further observations, especially spectroscopic ones, are utmost 
desirable.

                           [FIGURE 1]


                                       M. POPOVA
                                     Sofia-Moscow
                            Sternberg Astronomical Institute