[vsnet-chat 251] Re: Q:rule of nomenclature of new variables

[Taichi Kato <tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>]

Seiichi Kiyota wrote in [vsnet-chat 246]:

> 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.

    In Japan (and probably in other countries), the rule to be an authorized
discovorer of a new object (comets, novae, supernovae and minor planets)
is well prevailed among amateur observers mainly through articles in
popular astronomy magazines.  For example, S. Nakano is having a series of
monthly articles describing how recent new objects were discovered, confirmed
and named (with some vivid description of the negociation with the CBAT).
Many amateur observers are now faimiliar with the process of authorization
of these discoveries, and those wish to be discoveres can strive under this
rule.  (In practice in Japan, the existence of a "given" rule sometimes
plays an important role to be a popular hobby ...)

    In variable stars, probable Kiyota-san and I have an impression that
the vagueness of these discovering, confiriming and naming (authorization)
processes has largely discouraged potential variable star searchers.  They
do not know where to report their discovories (they are often awkward to
write scientific papers, esp. in English), and do not know how their
discovories contribute to the variable star community.  I know a great
number of variable stars discovered in Japan, which have all remained
unreported and are disappearing from the scope of searcher's interest.
It's a great loss.

Regards,
Taichi Kato

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