[Aavso-photometry] ASAS variables on charts

[Brad Walter]

 I think that Jim is asking how he finds the AAVSO designation or name if he
has another catalog designation (alias) such as the ASAS number. Jim, If you
look up the ASAS, HD, BD, GSC, or just about any other alias in the Simbad
data base, you will be able to see if it has a Harvard designation, GCVS
designation or an NSV designation. Try any of those as a name for VSP or
VSX. The ASAS designation should work (see below regarding the "j") if the
star is in the VSP or VSX database, respectively.  

AAVSO uses the Harvard designation as its designation (not name) in the old
star plotter. In VSX and VSP the Harvard designation seems to be just
another name that the software recognizes. There is some lack of consistency
of which you must be aware. If you run into one of these inconsistencies,
try another way if your first attempt doesn't turn up a VSP chart or a VSX
listing. For example, look at AAVSO Alert Notice 351. The ASAS catalog
designation in Simbad is ASAS j182611+1212.6. It won't recognize the catalog
number without the "j". The AAVSO alert notice (also VSX and VSP) omits the
leading "j" from the ASAS catalog number. The AAVSO star name is given as
ASAS182612 in the alert notice, but contrary to the instructions for getting
a star chart, that star name doesn't work in VSP or VSX. The Harvard
designation works and so does the ASAS catalog number without the leading
"j."

You also have to be careful about spaces in the star name. Simbad doesn't
care if you type NSV3806 or NSV 3806, ASASj182611+1212.6 or ASAS
j182611+1212.6. In VSP and VSX you have to type NSV 3806 and ASAS
j182611+1212.6 (with the space). 

If plug a designation into Simbad and it doesn't work, you can check the
correct nomenclature for the respective catalog you are trying to search by
selecting Dictionary of Nomenclature and then looking up the catalog
designation (e.g. ASAS) with "Identifier Starting by" selected in the drop
down box. 

Is this what you were trying to find out?

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:04:43 -0600
From: Jim Roe <jroe at jamesroe.com>
Subject: [Aavso-photometry] ASAS variables on charts
To: Aavso-Photometry <aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org>
Message-ID: <477D943B.4070404 at jamesroe.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I usually ask to see all variables in fields of target stars.  I see ASAS
stars noted (eg, ASAS 063542+0531.5) and might as well measure and report
them - but I can't find their IDs in the VSX or anywhere else/  Help?

Jim Roe [ROE]
Wentzville, Missouri