Six‐year photometry of BQ Cameloparadalis—The optical counterpart of V0332+53

Abstract

We report on the results of V, R, I photometry of BQ Cam—the optical counterpart of the transient x‐ray pulsar V0332+53, during the years 1985–91. Throughout this period we have detected a long‐term modulation correlated with the last observed x‐ray eruption. Similar long‐term modulation and correlation were observed in 4U0115+63—another Be‐star x‐ray source. We discussed briefly two scenarios for the optical modulation, with and without a possible large mediatory disc around the neutron star.