By using the INES archive of the IUE satellite, we analyzed the spectra of SS Cygni in quiescence in order to determine the value of the reddening of the binary system. The reddening of the system is reported in the literature with values that vary significantly from one another. The results demonstrate that the reddening is comprised by two components: the first, interstellar in origin, with a value E(B − V) = 0.04 ± 0.02 mag, and the second, intrinsic to the binary system, with values up to E(B − V) = 0.16 ± 0.02 mag. The intrinsic value of the reddening is variable along the quiescent phase and with orbital phase.

We present the historic light curve of 1WGA J0447.9À0322, spanning the time interval from 1962 to 1991, built using the Asiago archive plates. The source shows small fluctuations of about 0.3 mag around B ¼ 16 until 1986 and a fast dimming of its average level by about 0.5 mag after that date, again with small short-term variations. The variability pattern is within the values shown by other QSOs with long-term monitoring, notwithstanding its high X-ray/ optical ratio. We also present its overall spectral energy distribution using literature data and recent UV-optical Swift observations.