THE CATACLYSMIC VARIABLE HX-PEGASI=PG-2337- CAUGHT ON THE RISE TO MAXIMUM(123 )

A radial velocity study of the Ha emission line of the cataclysmic var iable HX Peg=PG 2337 + 123 shows that its orbital period is 0.2008+/-0 .0005 d (4.82 h). Magnitudes from Harvard College Observatory archive plates suggest that it is either a dwarf nova or a VY Scl star. The qu iescent spectrum shows K I lambda lambda 7665, 7699 Angstrom in absorp tion, consistent with the presence of an unusual subdwarf-K mass-losin g star. At the beginning of the second night of the run, O I lambda 77 73 Angstrom was in absorption. Near midnight, the continuum rose rapid ly into maximum, with time-resolved red spectra taken throughout. This is the second-ever example of time-resolved spectroscopy of a catacly smic variable's rise from minimum to a high state (after that of Mansp erger and Kaitchuck), and the first with red spectra.