UBVR MONITORING OF HZ HER = HER X-1 - ON SHAPE VARIABILITY OF THE ACCRETION REGION AND OF THE HOT-SPOT IN THE SUBGIANT PHOTOSPHERE

1035 BV and UBVR observations of HZ Her are presented. As a rule, moni toring duration in 1982, 1988 - 1990, and 1992 exceeded the X-ray 35-d ay period. Observational accuracy permits us to study fine details of light curves. The principal results of light and color curve analysis are presented. Extension, temperature, and shape of the accretion form ation's brighter part, as well as the size of the opaque disk, are hig hly variable. Considerable asymmetry of the bright accretion formation is observed 80% of the time. Rapid asymmetry changes are apparently n ot related to the 35-day X-ray cycle. The size of the bright accretion formation in 1982 and 1992 exceeded the diameter of the subgiant. The bright spot in the subgiant's photosphere migrates by 30-degrees - 40 -degrees in latitude and longitude with respect to the central meridia n. The greatest displacements were observed in 1982 - 1983. The hot sp ot's temperature varies within the range 18 000 - 23 000 K. Strong ani sotropy of the flux from the accretion formation, as well as rapid var iability of the hot spot and the accretion flow by intensity and shape , contradict the oblique precessing disk model.