COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
        INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                    Number 713


                                  Konkoly Observatory
                                  Budapest
                                  1972 September 11


          OBSERVATIONS OF THE EXTREMELY YOUNG
          STELLAR GROUP Lk H-alpha 224 AND 225


   The evolutionary significance of the stellar group near
BD + 40d4124 was first noticed by Herbig (ApJ Supp. 4, p.337).
Later Cohen (ApJ 173. L 61) and Strom et al. (ApJ 173, L 65)
detected large infrared excesses of members of the group. 
Furthermore the data of Strom et al. revealed some optical 
variability of Lk H_alpha 225 and of BD + 40d4124 itself.
   Though the remark of Strom et al. on the strong variability 
of Lk H_alpha 225 seemed not to be conclusive, as they compared
the red photograph of Herbig (l.c.) with their own blue plates.
a private communication of Dr. Herbig satisfied the doubts.
   I estimated the stars Lk H_alpha 224 and 225 on Sonneberg plates
with the following results:
   Lk H_alpha 224 is more often bright than faint. In maximum light
there are irregular fluctuations generally between 13.0m and
14.0m (cycle length roughly 50 days) which occasionally are 
interrupted or terminated by minima (extreme case: 17.3m) lasting 
days or weeks.
Total range: 12.6m to 17.3m pg.
   Lk H_alpha 225 is usually fainter than 16.5m and invisible on the
majority of plates, A series of Heidelberg 40 cm astrographic
plates from 1958 April to July shows the star irregularly varying 
between 17.0m and 17.8m near the plate limit. On the POSS
prints the object is about 16.8m (O 754) and 17.8m (O 1145), Strom
et al. measured B = 18.2 (1971 Oct. 14). The outstanding fact
is that two eruptions are observed:

   1962 June 2, Oct.4    15.4m (May 31 fainter than 16.0m),
   1963 Sep. 13          15.7 (isolated plate).

Total range: 15.4m to 18.2m pg.


                                W. WENZEL
                             Sternwarte Sonneberg
                                  DDR-64