  The Large Area Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instruments onboard the AstroSat
Observatory has observed the X-ray binary system Her X-1 during AstroSat
observing sessions AO2, AO3 and TO2. These include observations while Her X-1
is in different stages of its 35 day cycle: Low State, Turn-on to Main High
State, peak of Main High State and early decline of Main High State. These
observations also include a number of dips and one egress of neutron star
eclipse. Here we present light curves and softness ratio analysis for these
observations and discuss new features of the spectral changes with 35-day phase
and orbital phase. We find a new phenomenon for dips during Main High state:
About half of the dips show constant softness ratio as count rate decreases,
which has not been seen before, and could be caused by highly ionized matter or
very dense cold matter. The other half of the dips show the normal decrease of
softness ratio as count rate decreases. These are caused by cold matter
absorption and were previously known.
