UBV PHOTOMETRY OF SAKURAI OBJECT IN 1996 AND REMARKS ABOUT ITS EVOLUTIONARY STATUS

The UBV observations of Sakurai's star over 30 nights in 1996 revealed a systematic reddening of this object by 0.4 in B-V. The spectral typ e, which was determined from B-V on the scale of supergiants, changed from F1-2 in February to G0-2 in October. Light fluctuations with an a mplitude that increased with time were observed. The luminosity of the star was essentially constant and equal to 3600L.. The observations q ualitatively confirm the evolutionary status of Sakurai's object as be ing the nucleus of a planetary nebula during the final helium-shell fl ash, but there are quantitative differences. A comparison with the evo lution of FG Sge is made.