COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
            INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                          Number 2290


                                                          Konkoly Observatory
                                                          Budapest
                                                          1983 March 7

                                                          HU ISSN 0374-0676


                         
                       ARCHER 5 IDENTIFIED AS RZ Com


  The announcement of the discovery of 24 variable stars in the region of the
Coma star cluster was made by Archer (1959). Apparently none of these variables
have been confirmed, hence they have not received variable star designations. 
However, some of the eclipsing binaries on Archer's list were included
in The Fifth Edition of the Finding List for Observers of Interacting Binary
Stars (Wood, et al., 1980).
  While preparing finder charts to pursue observations of these variables,
the present author noted several similarities between Archer's star number 5
and the known eclipsing binary RZ Com (BD +24deg2475). The argument that the
two are one in the same is based upon the following considerations:

  1. Archer noted that Prager (1929) had previously discovered Archer 5, but
      Prager's discovery eventually was designated RZ Com.

  2. The 1950 coordinates of RZ Com agree precisely with those given by Archer
       for Archer 5.

  3. The period of Archer 5 (.339d) agrees well with that of RZ Com
     (.33850604d).

  4. Similar amplitudes are given for both stars.

  Perhaps the confusion is partly due to the magnitude given for Archer 5
(9.6). Some of the 24 stars studied by Archer can be identified as BD and
SAO stars. Comparison of Archer's magnitudes to catalog magnitudes show that
Archer's estimates are about one magnitude too bright. This correction would
cause Archer 5 and RZ Com to have about the same magnitude. It is hoped that
the editors of future editions of the Finders' List will take these arguments
into consideration and delete Archer 5 (number 1490 in the list).



                      DANNY R. FAULKNER
                      Astronomy Department
                      Swain Hall West 319
                      Indiana University
                      Bloomington, IN 47405
                      U.S.A.


References:

Archer, S. 1959, Jour. Brit. Astron. Assoc. 69, 157
Prager, R. 1929, Kleinere Veroffentlichungen Der Universitatssternwarte zu
 Berlin-Babelsberg 6, 14
Wood, F.B., Oliver, J.P., Florkowski, D.R., and Koch, R.H. 1980, A Finding
 List for Observers of Interacting Binary Stars (University of Pennsylvania
 Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)