  We present optical spectroscopy and optical and infrared photometry of the
counterpart to the transient X-ray source KS 1947+300. The counterpart is shown
to be a moderately reddened V=14.2 early-type Be star located in an area of low
interstellar absorption slightly above the Galactic plane. Changes in
brightness are accompanied by correlated reddening of the source, as is
expected in this kind of object. From intermediate resolution spectroscopy, we
derive a spectral type B0Ve. If the intrinsic luminosity of the star is normal
for its spectral type, KS 1947+300 is situated at a distance of ~10 kpc,
implying that its X-ray luminosity at the peak of the spring 2000 X-ray
outburst was typical of Type II outbursts in Be/X-ray transients. KS 1947+300
is thus the first Be/X-ray recurrent transient showing Type II outbursts which
has an almost circular orbit.
