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Abstract. The results of the optical monitoring between November 1994 and November 1995 of twenty γ-ray loud blazars included in the Torino blazar monitoring program are presented. All data were taken with the 1.05 m REOSC astrometric telescope of the Torino Astronomical Observatory, equipped with a 1242 × 1152 pixels charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Observations have been carried out in the standard B, V (Johnson), and R (Cousins) bands. Source magnitudes are calculated with respect to reference stars in the same frame. For half blazar fields it was possible to perform a photometric calibration through the observation of Landolt's fields during photometric nights. In the other cases either photometric sequences from the literature were adopted or, when lacking, magnitudes were simply normalized to their minimum value. Most of the monitored objects show a more or less pronounced brightness variability on both short and long time scales. In a few cases also noticeable intranight variations were detected. Data simultaneous to pointings of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) are present in our light curves: when the γ data are available they will provide a useful information in order to understand the possible correlations between the optical and γ-ray emissions. For one source (PKS 2254+074) we performed also photopolarimetry, deducing magnitudes, amount of polarization, and position angle in the UBV RI bands.

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Abstract. Optical polarization of seven selected BL Lac objects in UBV RI bands was studied with the Nordic Optical Telescope from December 10-14, 1999. Two of them, 3C 66A and PKS 0735+178, were monitored for 4 nights for a total integration time of 4.75 and 5.5 hours, respectively. Other objects (1 Jy 0138−097, H 0414+009, PKS 0823−223, OJ287 and BL Lac) were observed sparsely during the run. Apart from PKS 0823−223 (more polarized than observed in the past), the sources show levels of flux and polarization consistent with results at previous epochs. 3C 66A and PKS 0735+178 were intensively observed during December 11 and 12 and exhibited variability of polarization, both on internight and intranight time scales. Wavelength dependence of polarization has been investigated, as well as circular polarization. The results are discussed within the standard model for BL Lacs.

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