COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
       INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                    NUMBER 504


                            Konkoly Observatory
                            Budapest
                            1971 January 5


     ON THE VARIABILITY AND PERIOD OF BH DRACONIS


     The star BH Draconis (BV 344, HD 178001, BD+57d1942)
was reported by W. Strohmeier and R. Knigge to be an Algol
type variable with photographic range 0.6 magnitude and
period 1.817232d. We observed it photoelectrically on 10
nights during June, 1968 with the No. 3 16 in. telescope at
KPNO, BV 344 is a visual double with separation of approximately 
10 seconds of arc. With a small aperture it was
possible to observe the two components separately and 
determine that the brighter of the two is the eclipsing
binary. A complete primary and a complete secondary eclipse
were observed and the time of primary eclipse has been used
along with Strohmeier's initial epoch to determine a refined
period.



               Observed Minima
-----------------------------------------------
       Minimum   Epoch         O-C    Observer
-----------------------------------------------
    2425774.485  -7839       -0.000  Strohmeier
       6439.610  -7473       +0.038  Strohmeier
       6630.380  -7368       -0.004  Strohmeier
       7624.402  -6821       -0.012  Strohmeier
       7982.433  -6624       +0.023  Strohmeier
       8460.315  -6361       -0.029  Strohmeier
       8727.496  -6214       +0.018  Strohmeier
       8965.552  -6083       +0.016  Strohmeier
       9045.542  -6039       +0.048  Strohmeier
       9352.631  -5870       +0.023  Strohmeier
      40019.7882     0       +0.000  Burke
       0397.7989 + 208       +0.014  Burke
-----------------------------------------------

     The elements are:


       Hel.Min. - JD 2440019.7982 + 1.81723857d E




     During 12 nights  of observation  in June and July
1969 another primary minimum was observed and preliminary
results indicate that the eclipse is total with totality
lasting 32 minutes. Changes in the prime comparison star
from 1968 to 1969 have delayed the completion of the light
curve but work on the star is continuing.




December 23, 1970
                      WILLIAM R. BOY
                    EDUARD W. BURKE, Jr.
                  King College Observatory
                      King College
                  Bristol, Tennessee 37620
                         U.S.A.