COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
        INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                   Number 2096

                               Konkoly Observatory
                               Budapest
                               1982 March 2

                               HU ISSN 0374-0676





         HIGH SPEED PHOTOMETRY OF H0139-68


    We have obtained high speed photometric observations of
the optical counterpart of the AM Her star H0139-68 (IAUC 3649,
3658). 10-sec integrations in "white light" were made with
the UCT photometer and an RCA 8644 (S20-response) on the 0.75m
reflector at the Sutherland site of the South African Astronomical 
Observatory.

                         [FIGURE 1]

 Figure 1   Light curve of H0139-68 on January 24, 1982. For
            heliocentric Julian Day add 2440 000.

                         [FIGURE 2]

 Figure 2   Light curve of H0139-68 on January 25, 1982.


The light curves, corrected for atmospheric extinction,
are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The abrupt rise in light, following 
a period of relative quiescence, is similar to that seen
in VV Pup (Warner and Nather, M.N.R.A.S. 156, 305, 1972), which
supports the AM Her classification. Flickering on a timescale
of minutes is present throughout the orbital cycle. Power spectra 
show on significant coherent rapid oscillations.
    The observations are not sufficiently. Combining the light
curves of Figures 1 and 2, orbital periods of 105.5 mins or
113.6 mins (+-0.5 mins) are possible. From a brief observation 
made in poor observing conditions on 23 January, the latter
period is favoured.




                  M. S. CROPPER
             Department of Astronomy
             University of Cape Town