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I'm for getting rid of the Harvard designations for new stars. (How many think of RU LMi as 0956+34?) It is possible to keep the AAVSO database and existing charts as they are and simply not assign Harvard designations to new additions. The only problem would be in the SIMBAD link to the AAVSO database. Perhaps the link would show up only in Vizier catalogue searches? As for the mare's nest of designations (ROTSE, ASAS, etc.), they are assigned when the object was first "discovered" with the instrument or satellite. In the vast majority, there is no other designation. That said, astronomical nomenclature is riddled with other kinds of inconsistencies. There is no special designation for spectroscopic binaries, unless one happens to also be eclipsing and then the variable star designation is generally - but not universally - used. A rule of thumb, in papers at least, is to use the designation that is appropriate to the work at hand but to cite other designations as a convenience to others. Best, Thom
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