Has alpha VIR ever stopped pulsating .

Photometric observations of Alpha Vir have been obtained in 1983. On one excellent night, light variations have been detected. The observed maximum is in phase with the maxima which had been observed before the damping of the pulsation some ten years ago. The value of the period has been redetermined. This result confirms that the pulsation never actually stopped and that the amplitude was simply below the detection threshold. Taking into account the observations from 1908 to 1983, it is concluded that either a period jump of 0.08 s occurred in 1956, or the period is increasing at a rate of 0.16 s century.