THE PROPERTIES AND PHOTOMETRIC BEHAVIOR OF HD-52961

HD 52961, a high-latitude F supergiant with a very unusual chemical co mposition, has been photometered on the UBV system on 172 nights durin g 1991-94. Low amplitude pulsations are found among these data, as wel l as a secular long-term fading and brightening. The latter may be due either to a mass-loss episode or an aspect effect in the star's binar y orbit. The pulsations are found to be much more regular than in othe r UU Herculis stars, and offer hope of detecting an expected period ch ange due to rapid evolution. Stromgren photometry and a period-gravity relation suggest log g=0.51, T-e=6000 K, and E(b-y)similar to 0.1. It is concluded that HD 52961 has a typical Population II mass near 0.6 M.. (C) 1995 American Astronomical Society.