COMMISSION 27 OF THE I.A.U.
                 INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                              Number 2979

                                                         Konkoly Observatory
                                                         Budapest
                                                         3 February 1987

                                                         HU ISSN 0374 - 0676


        POSSIBLE ORBITAL PERIOD OF NOVA VULPECULAE  1984 I
                         (PW VULPECULAE)

In the course of a thorough investigation of the light-curve of PW Vul on 299
plates of Sonneberg Observatory and the Crimean Station of the Sternberg 
Institute of Moscow a dense series of 61 Sonneberg astrographic plates, taken
between 1986 Sep. 30 and Oct. 10, were analysed with respect to periodic 
variations. After subtraction of the monotonous trend of the normal brightness
decline the data were subjected to a period search programme, and the following 
elements were found:

          min.(hel.) = 244 6704.263 + 0d.21372.E
                                +-3       +-91

   The light-curve resulting from folding the data by these elements is given
in the figure.

                          [FIGURE 1]

   The scatter is not larger than can be normally expected for this sort of
photographic observations. Therefore we conclude that the period is probably
real, especially since it is in the typical range of orbital periods of novae.
   Particulars concerning the system of comparison stars and the overall 
lightcurve will be published in Mitt. Veranderl. Sterne.


                             G. HACKE

                         Sternwarte Sonneberg
                    Zentralinstitut für Astrophysik
                     der Akademie der Wissenschaften
                              der DDR