COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
             INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                        Number 3502

                                                 Konkoly Observatory
                                                 Budapest
                                                 8 August 1990
                                                 HU ISSN 0374 - 0676


            HD 97305: A NEW VARIABLE IN LEO


    While engaged in an observing program devoted to studying
the possible long-term light variations of supergiants, it was
discovered that one of the stars utilized for comparison purposes
was variable. This star, HD 97305, was found to vary over a V
range of 0.375 magnitudes from 28 observations.
    Differential BV photometry was obtained for HD 97305 with
3 telescope-photometer systems. The major portion of the work was
done with the 0.6-m. telescope and uncooled single channel photon-
counting photometer of the Corralitos Observatory. 5 magnitudes
each in B & V were contributed from the Kitt Peak Observatory's
#2 0.9-m. telescope and automated filter photometer with its 1P21
photomultiplier tube. Finally, Stromgren by magnitudes were 
obtained on three nights with the Lowell Observatory 1.1-m. telescope
and red photometer. Sufficient standard stars were observed with
all the systems so as to allow meaningful intercomparison of the
magnitudes. Standard stars also allowed the transformation of the
Lowell by magnitudes to BV.
   The comparison stars chosen for HD 97305 were HD 98502 (V=
7.694; B-V=+.984; K0) and HD 98217 (V=6.841; B-V=+.922; G5). The
average standard errors about the mean in V and B-V for these 
comparison stars were 0.014 and 0.023 magnitudes respectively.
   Figure 1 shows the magnitudes graphically for HD 97305 and
Table I details the values. The star would appear to be a variable 
in both V and B-V. There is a tendency towards brightening and


                          [FIGURE 1]

         FIGURE 1: V and B-V MAGNITUDES FOR HD 97305


                             TABLE I

JD            V       B-V    JD            V       B-V
6865.8854   8.764   +1.658   7644.6819   8.671   +1.618
6867.8597   8.757    1.670   7673.6854   8.523    1.654
6909.7319   8.666    1.694   7915.8542   8.418    1.661
6945.6979   8.684    1.678   7916.8854   8.444    1.666
7170.8979   8.606    1.623   7917.8653   8.450    1.671
7182.9778   8.643    1.684   7938.8438   8.661
7185.9194   8.584    1.663   7939.7942   8.595
7212.8951   8.573    1.697   7952.7062   8.389    1.656
7230.8639   8.650    1.671   7985.7111   8.666    1.491
7259.7424   8.570    1.707   7986.7021   8.600    1.487
7275.7993   8.648    1.612   8001.7486   8.558    1.655
7303.6896   8.721    1.647   8002.6910   8.554    1.689
7312.7278   8.624    1.665   8042.6764   8.686    1.546
7624.7139   8.631    1.616   8043.6785   8.663    1.517




bluing in the last observing season. A period search utilizing
the Minimum Phase Dispersion Technique of Stellingwerf (1978)
over the possible range of periods 0.5 to 525 days revealed a
possible periodicity at 437.64 days, though it was unconvincing
when examined as a phase diagram. Therefore, at present, the
variability of HD 97305 is considered to be of an unknown or
irregular type. Despite its comparative brightness, no previous
spectrum history could be located for HD 97305 except for the
spectral type of K5 given in the HD Catalog. In view of the large
magnitude range over which the star varies, it would seem that a
current spectrum would be of interest.

    Thanks are gratefully tendered to C. Gullixson and T. Kreidl
for assistance with the Lowell Observatory telescope/photometric
system.




                             E.M. HALBEDEL

                             Corralitos Observatory
                             P.O. Box 16314
                             Las Cruces, NM 88004
                             U.S.A.




REFERENCE

Stellingwerf, R. (1978) Astrophys. J., 224, 953. [BIBCODE 1978ApJ...224..953S ]