COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
      INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                  NUMBER 236

                            Konkoly Observatory
                            Budapest
                            1967 November 16


ON THE WORK OF THE VARIABLE STAR SECTION, ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF NEW
ZEALAND


This Section comprises observers in New Zealand and Australia. Observations
are mainly visual although a few members employ photometers. It is hoped to
add photo-electric equipment later. My own 16-inch Cassegrain I have lent to
the Mount John University Observatory and this is used exclusively on
photoelectric observing. Instruments available range up to professionally
built reflectors in the 16 inch to 20 inch size.

Stars under observation are given on the attached list. Particular attention
is paid to objects south of declination S. 30d with the main emphasis on
variables of the classes:-

RV Tauri; Recurrent Novae; Novalike; RW Aur;
U Gem; Z Cam; and Unique.

Observations of other classes are made regularly.

Observations are published in the Circulars of the Section for which the annual
subscription is $US 5.00. Apart from observations papers on certain stars are
issued from time to time, either in the Circulars or as reprints.

Flare stars of UV Ceti class are observed in conjunction with the CSIRO,
Radiophysics Division, Sydney when the latter required optical observations.
Bateson is currently making a survey of potential flare stars to determine
which ones are active.

Stranson has photographed all variable star fields south of Declination S.
30d. These photographs form the basis of the charts produced by Bateson, A.F.
Jones and Stranson, of which three sets have already been published. These are
available at $US 8.50 per set. The next issue goes to the printers shortly.
Ultimately the complete series, totalling ten, will cover all variables, other
than those of short period classes, south of declination S. 34d and brighter
than visual magnitude 13 at maximum.

Several members observe photographically. The Section is always willing to
co-operate on special programmes and has carried out a number of these in the
past.

LIST OF VARIABLES UNDER OBSERVATION

ANTLIA          U; X; RR.
APUS            S; T; V; X; Z; RR; RT; UZ; VV.
ARA             U; V; W; AT.
CAELUM          R; T.
CANIS MAIOR     Z; UY; UZ.
CAPRICORNUS     RR
CARINA          R; S; Z; RR; RS; RT; RU; RV; RW; RY; RZ;
                SU; TW; AC; AG; AN; AF; CL; DI; EP; HR;
                BO; IW; Eta.
CENTAURUS       R; T; U; W; X; RS; RT; RV; RW; RX; SX; TT;
                UU; UW; WW; AD; CD; DF; DY; BV; MU; NN.
                V396; V436; V442; V398; V407; V504; V661;
                V665.
CHAMAELEON      R; T; V; W; Z.
CIRCINUS        B; AE.
COLUMBA         R; S; T.
CORONA AUST.    R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; RR; RT; RU; TY;
                WX; YY; YZ; AM; GG; GR; GY.
CRUX            S; U; V; X.
DELPHINUS       Nova 1967
DORADO          R; U; RZ; ST; SV; Beta.
ERIDANUS        T; U; W; X; Y; RS; RT; RW.
FORNAX          R; U.
GEMINI          U.
GRUS            R; S; T.
HOROLOGIUM      R; S; T; U; RT; SW; SX.
HYDRA           W; RS; RU; EX; FP.
HYDRUS          RS; RY; TU; YW.
INDUS           R; S; T; RZ; SS.
LUPUS           R; S; T; U; X; Y; W; RU; RY; EX.
MICROSCOPIUM    R; S; T; U; V; W; RS; RX; RY.
MONOCEROS       CW.
MUSCA           Y; SY.
NORMA           R; T; V; W; X; RT; RZ; HP.
OCTANS          R; S; T; U.
OPHIUCHUS       W; RS; TV; V517.
ORION           CN; CZ; Alpha.
PAVO            R; S; T; U; V; W; X; SU; BR; Kappa.
PHOENIX         R; S; T; U; V; W; RT; SY; SZ.
PICTOR          R; S; T; RR.
PISCIS AUST.    R; S; U; RY; ST.
PUPPIS          W; Z; RT; RV; RW; SU; TU; AR; AS; AT; CD;
                CH; FK; L2.
PYXIS           T
RETICULUM       R; T; RV; RX; SU.
SAGITTARIUS     RR; RU; RV; RT; RY; RZ; SW; TY; VZ; WW;
                AZ; AR; FN; GU; MV; OS; V348; V618; V742;
                V915; V1016; V1017; HV7864.
SCORPIUS        R; S; U; Z; RS; RR; RT; RU; RW, SV; SW;
                SX; TV; WW; AC; AD; AE; AG; AH; AI; AK;
                BH; BI; CL; FQ; LO; LR; MM; V380; V450;
                Alpha.
SCULPTOR        R; S; T; U; V; X; Y; SW; SY.
SCUTUM          R.
SERPENS         UZ.
TELESCOPIUM     R; T; U; V; W; X; Y; RS; RR; VZ.
TRIANGULUM AUST.EK.

TUCANA          R; S; T; U; TZ; UU; UY; AA.
VELA            W; X; Y; Z; RS; RU; RW; SS; SU; SY; TV; WY;
                CE; CU.
VIRGO           TW
VOLANS          R; S; T.

SUSPECTED VARIABLES

SVS Nos. 1668; 1995; 2011; 2144; 2638; 3543;
         4467; 4517; 5112;
S 6302; 6322; 6732.
HD Nos. 84046; 124448; 168476.
CPD -71d2486.
CoD -30d13622; -30d13634.


F.M. BATESON
Director
P.O. Box 33, Lake Tekapo
New Zealand