[vsnet-chat 376] Re: gamma-ray burst source

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

G'day all,

   >Will recent optical counterparts of gamma-ray burst sources be given
   >variable star designations?
   >Regards,
   >Taichi Kato

I should think not, because GRBs are probably not stars as we know them.
And there are precedents for not giving "uncertain" objects a
conventional name:

Quasars :- look like variable stars (to most of us), but they get named
as "QSO..." , or from radio source catalogues.

Pulsars :- these are stars (sort of), but generally they don't get
variable star names unless also identified as _optically_ variable.


Similar hesitations apply to X-ray and UV variables.  However, infrared
variables with no apparent optical signal seem to have no trouble
getting into the GCVS.  Is this the real meaning of "spectral
discrimination" ? :)



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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