COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
         INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                   Number 2144

                                 Konkoly Observatory
                                 Budapest
                                 1982 May 13

                                 HU ISSN 0374-0676




         PHOTOELECTRIC OBSERVATIONS OF theta^2 Tau (HR 1412)




 The Delta Scuti star theta^2 Tau was found to be variable by Horan (1977,
1979). This star is a member of Hyades cluster, and it is a spectroscopic 
binary with high eccentricity (P = 140.7d, e = 0.75).
 Photoelectric observations of theta^2 Tau were made during the period
Sept. 15, 1981 - Jan. 31, 1982 at the 102 cm reflector of Merate Observatory, 
using a standard B filter, an ice refrigerated Lallemand photomultiplier 
with the integration time set at 15 s, and a semiautomatic
device for setting alternatively the variable and the comparison star.
The comparison and the check star were HR 1422 and HR 1427, respectively. 
In order to guarantee the safety of our results, the check star was
measured with the same frequency as the variable.
 We have obtained a total of 1412 measurements distributed over twenty
nights. The amplitude of the light curve of theta^2 Tau is variable, and
the maximum amplitude observed is about 0.04 mag.
  A preliminary data analysis has given the following results:
1) there are probably four frequencies: 13.2218, 12.3715, 16.0200 and
  12.0372 c/d (in order of decreasing amplitude);
2) the profile of peaks of power spectrum is broad and seems to show
  a splitting in two components;
3) there is a light variation with an amplitude of about 0.015 mag on
  a time scale of several tens of days, which must be ascribed to the
  variable.

The results of the complete data analysis will be published elsewhere.





              E. ANTONELLO and L. MANTEGAZZA
             Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera
             Via E. Bianchi, 46 - 22055 Merate
                     Italy





References:


Horan, S.: 1977, IBVS n. 1232.
Horan, S.: 1979, Astron. J. 84, 1770. [BIBCODE 1979AJ.....84.1770H ]