[Aavso-photometry] AUID Question

[Robert J. Modic]

Arne,

What if an observer needs to use a comp star that is not in the
VSD and thus has no AUID or other identifier?  How should this
comp star be ID'ed in the Extended format?

Bob


> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:12:03 -0500
> From: arne <arne at aavso.org>
> Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] AUID Question
> To: "Brian D. Warner" <brian at MinorPlanetObserver.com>
> Cc: aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
> Message-ID: <479518B3.8000205 at aavso.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> 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