We present the results of polarimetric (R-band) and multicolor photometric (BVRIJHK ) observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 during an outburst in 2006 December. The data reveal a short timescale of variability (several hours), which increases from optical to near-IR wavelengths; even shorter variations are detected in polarization. The flux density correlates with the degree of polarization, and at the maximum degree of polarization the electric vector tends to align with the parsec-scale jet direction. We find that a variable component with a steady power-law spectral energy distribution and very high optical polarization (30%Y50%) is responsible for the variability. We interpret these properties of the blazar within a model of a transverse shock propagating down the jet. In this case a small change in the viewing angle of the jet, by P1 , and a decrease in the shocked plasma compression by a factor of $1.5 are sufficient to account for the variability.

We present the results of optical (R-band) photometric and polarimetric monitoring and Very Long Baseline Array imaging of the blazar S4 0954+658, along with Fermi γ -ray data during a multi-waveband outburst in 2011 March-April. After a faint state with a brightness level R ∼ 17.6 mag registered in the first half of 2011 January, the optical brightness of the source started to rise and reached ∼14.8 mag during the middle of March, showing flare-like behavior. The most spectacular case of intranight variability was observed during the night of 2011 March 9, when the blazar brightened by ∼0.7 mag within 7 hr. During the rise of the flux, the position angle of the optical polarization rotated smoothly over more than 300• . At the same time, within 1σ uncertainty, a new superluminal knot appeared with an apparent speed of 19.0 ± 0.3c. We have very strong evidence that this knot is associated with the multi-waveband outburst in 2011 March-April. We also analyze the multi-frequency behavior of S4 0954+658 during a number of minor outbursts from 2008 August to 2012 April. We find some evidence of connections between at least two additional superluminal ejecta and near-simultaneous optical flares.

Abstract. The Pulkovo spectrophotometric catalog was published in Baltic Astronomy Vol.5 No.4 (1996). Here we present a supplement of the catalog containing the flux distribution data for 77 stars in the wavelength range from 320 nm to 735 nm. Actually, this is a direct continuation of Table 6 of the catalog.