Optical variability of the radio source Z0524+03

The results of photometric observations of the optical component of the known variable radio source Z0524+03 are reported. The light variations amounted to 1.5 ^m during the period from January 21, 1998 to January 28, 2001 and occurred synchronously in the BVRI bands on time scales ranging from several years to 0.05 days. The spectral index of the object (S ～ ν ^α) varied from ?2.4 to ?1.3 from minimum to maximum light.Polarimetric observations made on January 22/23, 1999 showed that the linear polarization of the radiation of the object did not exceed 1% at the time of observation.Three local-standard candidates have been selected in the field of the object.