Time resolved photometry (SWASP, lower panel) and radial velocities of the CYCLOPS and EFOSC2 spectra (middle panels) plotted against phase. The data has been folded to the upper limit for the orbital period of a putative close binary with synchronised rotation of the sdB (P ≃ 0.22 d, see Geier et al. 2011a). Two complete phases are plotted for better visualisation. Since no significant variations can be seen in the data, SB 290 is not in a close binary system. The nightly average values of the radial velocities measured from all spectra is plotted against the Julian Date (upper panel). The oldest RV point dates back to 1969 and is taken from Graham & Slettebak (1973).