The variable, single-line Wolf-Rayet star HD 96548 with a low-mass companion.

Extensive narrow-band photoelectric photometry and high-dispersion optical photographic spectroscopy indicate in the WN8 star HD 96548 the presence of two variable components: (1) random noise with approximately 0.02 mag rms both in the continuum and, uncorrelated, in emission lines, on a time scale of days; (2) a possible periodic modulation (P equals 4.762d) with full amplitude 0.04 mag in the light curve with double minimum and semi-amplitude 8 - 10 km/sec in the radial velocity curve. These are tentatively interpreted in terms of a WR plus compact binary. Supporting evidence for a compact companion comes from two other factors: DH 96548 is located relatively far from the galactic plane and it is surrounded by an expanding, ejected H II gas ring.