[Aavso-photometry] AUID Question

[arne]

Brian D. Warner wrote:
> As for a name - this star is known as
> VSX J074727.6+065050
> or
> 000-BFS-926
> and has now been added to the AID/Webobs so that you can upload
> your observations.
> 
> 
> I was wondering if every variable was getting an AUID in addition
> to its common name. For example, looking at R AND, the photometry
> table doesn't seem to give an AUID for R AND itself, but there are,
> of course, a number of comps that were given an AUID.
> 
> Is there any interpretation to the AUID nomenclature, or is just
> an sequentially increasing value?
> 
There are still some disconnects in our new system.  The photometry
table comes from the compstar database (VSD), where all comparison
stars have been given AUIDs.  The varible may or may not have an
AUID since it is not a "comparison star."  All GCVS stars now have
an AUID, but that is stored in yet another table.  While each star
has a *unique* identifier, not all programs know all AUIDs that
have been assigned.  For instance, VSX *does* know R And's AUID
(000-BBB-589) and so does LCG, QL, etc. - just not the photometry table.

All new transient objects are getting assigned an AUID directly from
VSX, and that AUID is getting propogated properly into various tables.
It is just the older stars that still need some work.

The AUID system just sequentially assigns a new ID.  There is a central
point that gives these out, so there is never a chance of two stars
getting the same identifier.  The main thing here is that the AUID
system is automatic and does not require human intervention, and
has sufficient capability to handle any reasonable growth in our
variable-star knowledge.  The old Harvard Designation system had
its limitations.  You need a unique name for an object so that
you are not reliant on coordinate accuracy.
Arne