COMMISSION 27 OF THE I.A.U.
               INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                            Number 1464

                                                      Konkoly Observatory
                                                      Budapest
                                                      1978 August 28


               S4802 IN CYGNUS, AN SR STAR

Using data obtained from the Maria Mitchell Observatory,
the light curve for the suspected variable S4802, (Figure 1),
located in the Cygnus region, appears to have a large amount of
scatter associated with the data points. This is not consistent
throughout the entire curve, however, because there are definite
periodic cycles apparent. These cycles, each lasting on the 
average about eighty days, suggest that S4802 is a semi-regular
star.

                      [FIGURE 1]

   Magnitude of         Bonner
 Comparison Stars     Durchmusterung
                     Catalog Number
     a 12.1              A 3865
     b 12.7              B 3860
     c 13.2
     d 14.4

   During these cycles, the shape of the light curve is
fairly symmetrical about a horizontal axis, but the amplitudes
of successive peaks do not remain the same. There are three
strips of the light curve which show these cycles and their
varying amplitudes quite well:

          Julian Date     Maximum
          of Maximum     Magnitude

            29810          12.8
            29885          12.9
            29960          13.0
            41190          12.9
            41540          12.1
           (41830          13.1)
            42280          12.9
            42580          13.0
            42660          13.3

   These smooth increases and decreases in the magnitudes of
the maxima suggest that there are two periods for S4802 - creating 
a beat phenomenon. Perhaps the portions of the light curve
in which there is much scatter, or where the cycles are 
indistinguishable from the mean curve, are simply the results of the
interference of two periods. Intervals of little variation could
likewise be caused by the cancellation of the two periods.
   The star varies in amplitude from 12.1 at maximum to about
14.3 at minimum (Delta m=2m.2). Many more observations are needed
to verify the possible beat phenomenon for this star.


                          KAREN MEECH

                          Maria Mitchell Observatory
                          Nantucket, Mass. 02554, U.S.A.


The investigation of the suspected variable S4802 was carried
out with the support of a scholarship from EARTHWATCH of
Belmont, Massachusetts.


                       [FIGURE 2]

 Ordinate axis - marked at one-magnitude intervals. Each strip
 is 1000 days, markers at 100-day intervals:

           Part 1            Part 2          Part 3
    A 26000-27000          G 33000-34000   M 39000-40000
    B 27000-28000          H 34000-35000   N 40000-41000
    C 28000-29000          I 35000-36000   O 41000-42000
    D 29000-30000          J 26000-37000   P 42000-43000
    E 30000-31000          K 37000-38000   Q 43000-44000
    F 32000-33000          L 38000-39000