Color photometric study of HZ Herculis

Standard four color UBVr photoelectric observations of the X-ray binary HZ HeriHer X-1 are studied for 35-day variations and for possible identification of several optical components within this system through their color signature in the composite light curve. The results of our analysis indicate three distinct luminous elements in the system: a relatively cool presumably stellar member discernible only at minimum light, a hotter second component which exhibits the 1.7-day eclipse cycle and is responsible for the major portion of optical luminosity, and finally a very hot component whose prominence in the light curve appears strongly correlated with the 35-day X-ray periodicity. Subject headings: binaries - X-ray sources