[vsnet-chat 259] Re: Q:rule of nomenclature of new variables

[Fraser Farrell <fraserf@dove.net.au>]

G'day all,

On 1997-04-21 skiyota@abr.affrc.go.jp said:
   >But they (VSOLJ bulletin and IBVS) has not good circulation for
   >amateurs. This is another big problem need to solve soon.

The IBVS website is very slow for me, and the connection tends to fall
over.  At least they are now posting the contents of their latest issues
to VSNET list, saving much search time.

   >Main point that I want to stress in my last post materials is
   >little different. It is;
   >As "criteria" of listing as new variable stars is not clear, it is
   >difficult to encourage amateur nova hunters to also pay attention
   >to new variables much more.

Hmmmm... something which might solve these problems...

A suggestion for VSNET managers:  Could we have a regular bulletin
concerning new variables and suspects please?  Even a simple list of
names and positions of these stars would help, although what I think of
is a monthly listing like this:


"New variables and Suspected variables for [year] [month]"
==========================================================

Part 1 - newly named variables:

old name       new name    position (2000)        class   range
--------       --------    ---------------        -----   -----
ABCDEF8 Sgr    V9999 Sgr   19h24m15s -20d11'11"    SR     9.9- 13.6v
Fred's star    V6789 Oct   11h44m54s -88d09'16"    UG:   14.6-<20  p
NSV 22222      V5000 Psc   00h00m01s -00d00'04"    EA    13.2- 19.9V
Kim's star#2   V6788 Oct   14h00m02s -87d16'19"    see IBVS 9876
etc...

Part 2 - new and suspected variables:

name          discoverer  position (2000)       range     reference
----          ----------  ---------------       -----     ---------
GSC 9999.8765 J Smith     02h14m22s +31d18'54"  9.6-12.1p vsnet 8765
?             N Yu        14h19m26s +01d11'07"  8.8-<14p  Ap.J.800,101
Beta Cen      I Cantseeit 14h04m    -60d22'     0.6-<10v  IAUC 98765
etc...


The exact layout is a subject for discussion.  Any ideas?  I think the
position _has_ to be given so that observers can decide which objects to
investigate further.  Personally I would be upset to spend much time
gathering the references, only to discover the object is at Dec +70d !

Part 1 would need the help of the GCVS compilers (or whoever assigns the
"official" names).  No star would make it into Part 1 unless its
variability was proven.  What kind of "proof" is acceptable is a subject
for debate - I guess the GCVS compilers want published lightcurves or
spectroscopy these days?  This brings up a related question - is anyone
maintaining or updating the NSV?

Part 2 would contain genuine new novae, as well as apparently unknown
variables discovered by nova searchers.  Part 2 is also for those field
stars with suspicious magnitudes that we all discover near known
variables(!), plus "non-existent" (in catalogues or the sky) objects.

Part 2 could be compiled from VSNET postings and/or reports from other
sources.  Each object listed would need a reference, containing the
announcement of its discovery plus enough information to identify it in
the sky.

A catalogue name (eg GSC, HD, PPM, BD/CD/CPD...) is enough to identify
many objects.  Most of us have astro software that can produce field
charts from the major catalogues.  If an object is not catalogued, then
the discoverer should supply a finder chart (from DSS, A1.0, or a photo
or CCD image) to the VSNET managers, to be made available for download
by interested persons.


Of course, any unusual activity discovered in _known_ variables is
reported in the usual ways.


I am assuming that VSNET can provide enough server space to store all
these monthly lists, finder charts, etc; online.  It might be that only
the latest months are stored as separate items, with earlier material
kept in archive files (ZIP, LZH, TAR, whatever...).

I am also assuming that VSNET managers have the time to do all this
work.  It may turn into such a big job that they never again see the
_real_ stars!  Speaking of which, it's been cloudy here for the last 9
nights :(




cheers,
Fraser Farrell

http://vsnet.dove.net.au/~fraserf/   email: fraserf@dove.net.au
traditional: PO Box 332, Christies Beach, SA  5165, Australia

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