The following catalogues and databases may be of assistance when planning observations.
Data on variable stars are constantly changing. New and ongoing surveys are locating new variable stars every day. Corrections to errors in the data are always coming in. But all of this work to refine what we know about these stars is happening at different times and in different places. The mission of VSX is to bring all of that new information together in a single data repository, make it accessible to the public via a simple web interface, and provide the tools necessary for the controlled and secure revising of the data.
The Atlas is a computer-readable version of David Andrews’ monumental Atlas of the Orion Nebula region (Armagh Observatory, 1981), updated by Mati Morel for VSS in 2011. It comprises corrected coordinates updated to epoch J2000.0, and BV magnitudes of 16398 stars in a region of 21.5 square degrees centred on M42 down to V~17. Download the ZIP file, which contains the database in a format for loading into Guide8 (and 9): Andrews.dat and Andrews.tdf, and two Readme files. The Andrews catalogue omitted the dense H II regions around M42; however Morel has covered this by including the Parenago catalogue, also designed to run on Guide8: Parenago.dat and Parenago.tdf. The two DAT files can be run simultaneously if desired.
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For more detailed, refer to the January 2018 edition of the VSS Newsletter.
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Edited by Mati Morel, created:2008. Last Revision:2012
Merged lists of dark nebulae – Barnard (1927) & Schoenberg (1964).
Purpose:
2 Files: BARN_SCHO_LIST.TXT, BARN_SCHO_LIST.XLS
Purpose: The media interest in the R136 stars in the Tarantula Nebula sparked me into action to find precise positions for its components. 1 File: R136_001.PDF
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Database for Stars in MW 245 (Reed). Positions added by M. Morel Purpose: To provide B1950 positions (not hitherto known), MK spectral types, and BV photometry (photographic) for 1487 stars in Puppis 3 Files: REED_AREAS.TXT, REED_AREAS.XLS, README.TXT
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Purpose: As a follow-up to my reworking of the Shapley-Lindsay (SL) catalogue of LMC star clusters, a similar plan of attack has been used for the star clusters of the SMC. The number of catalogued objects here is only a fraction of that in the LMC, so it was fairly straightforward to work through all 220 clusters identified by Hodge & Wright (1977) in their atlas of the SMC. 2 Files : READSMC.TXT, SMC_CLUS.TXT
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As a follow-up to my reworking of the Shapley-Lindsay (SL) catalogue of LMC star clusters, a similar plan of attack has been used for the star clusters of the SMC. The number of catalogued objects here is only a fraction of that in the LMC, so it was fairly straightforward to work through all 220 clusters identified by Hodge & Wright (1977) in their atlas of the SMC.
Lindsay Catalogue of SMC clusters Four catalogues of SMC clusters were used by Hodge and Wright in compiling their SMC atlas, with Eric Lindsay’s 1958 catalogue being the longest, with 116 entries. I have given Lindsay’s compilation priority status, and kept his clusters in correct numerical order, even though the precise J2000 positions are not always strictly in order of increasing RA. Entries from other catalogues (K, WG and HW) are inserted in the most appropriate positions, according to RA.
Compared to the LMC, identification problems were rare, and the Hodge-Wright atlas was found to be very reliable, displaying the positions of clusters with commendable accuracy. Nevertheless, Lindsay’s published catalogue was consulted to be sure no vital information was missed. Curiously, while the Lindsay catalogue gives diameters in arcmin for each cluster, the values given are generally far too large, up to 79 arcmin. It is clear that some other scale is meant, perhaps an absolute diameter in parsecs? The BSDL diameter data has been inserted instead.
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Version 1: In 1994 the first tentative attempt was made to compile a list of comparison stars for variable stars, as reported in certain issues of the IBVS (Morel 1994). In many reports on variable stars where UBV photometry been performed the authors have specified which comparison and check stars were used, and their adopted magnitudes, usually tied to the standard Johnson-Morgan UBV system. To facilitate access to this useful data I compiled a Directory of Comparison Stars Cited in IBVS, commencing with IBVS No. 2081, the earliest one in my set at that time.
The first version tended to concentrate on fainter stars, below 6.00V, for which the IBVS data was likely to be new. Data was compiled by examining each issue of IBVS, initially numbers 2081-4039. V and B-V values were retrieved, and matched with standard catalogue identifiers (HD, SAO, DM etc). Positions were provided for each comparison star, for B1950. In some instances, where IBVS published a sequence of many stars, or a sequence with faint stars below the limit of the Guide Star Catalogue, positions were not readily available, and the table entry merely refers to the entire sequence. Number of records: 520. Version 1 was made available to the astronomical community in two formats: ASCII text file, and spreadsheet (Lotus 1-2-3), on diskette upon request.
Version 2: In 2001, at the suggestion of Dr. Andras Holl, the Directory was expanded to cover many missed issues of IBVS, especially numbers 1-2080. The table format was retained, but the number of records was now almost double, and covered IBVS issues 1 – 4209. The complete table of comparison stars can be found on IBVS CD-ROM II as a text file (auxiliary table 4067-t1.txt, to IBVS 4067). Number of records: 1025.
Version 3 (IBVS4): In Jan. 2003, upon request, it was agreed to update the Directory again. Firstly, all of the numbers of IBVS 4210-5000 were searched for data. Secondly it was decided to check and amend all positions from epoch B1950 to J2000. This was done using Guide 8 (TM) software. The retrieval of higher precision coordinates was greatly facilitated, as well as retrieving other catalogue numbers. This process also allowed easy checking of IBVS data against data from the Hipparcos/Tycho mission. Any discrepancies found were investigated closely and resolved satisfactorily, in most cases. The working name for Version 3 is IBVS4. Number of records: 1322.
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For users of MaximDL/CCD V5 this file replaces the Stars.csv file found in the /Program files/Diffraction Limited/MaximDL V5 folder on Windows machines. Rename your original file to stars.old and just copy the new file into the folder. The original file contained just 78 bright stars, but the replacement contains those bright stars plus the entire GCVS catalog plus 140 transiting exoplanets. Using the catalog for a GOTO has the added benefit of putting the target star’s name into the FITS header of your images.
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Purpose: To provide a listing of 71 galactic OB associations, and about 1000 confirmed member stars, according to the work done by R.M. Humphreys in 1978.
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Identifying NSV Objects Prepared by Mati Morel Innes (1914) published a list of 111 variables in UOC20. The majority (77%) have now received GCVS names, while the remainder have NSV designations. The identities of many of these NSV entries are still uncertain, and the work done here provides clarification, using the material (finder charts and descriptive notes) published by Innes, together with modern sources.
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Compiled by Lucke, 1972. Edited by Mati Morel, created:2013. Last Revision:2013
Purpose:
4 Files: README.TXT, LH_STARS_F.TXT, LHOB_f.TDF, LH_NUMORDER.TXT
Notes: The catalogue lists 1684 stars around Selected Area 158 in Sgr. The field covers 25.2 sq°, from (J2000) 18h18.0m to 18h41.0m, and -27°25′ to -32°15′, with a limiting mag ~12ptg. My work provides other identifiers (HD and DM nos), not part of the original paper. While the list provides much data of a spectral nature, rather than variable stars, nevertheless a number of variable stars did turn up in the course of this work and will be of interest.
Other Sources: The construction of this catalogue is based on a paper and finder charts published by S.W. McCuskey (1964). GUIDE9 was used to generate on-screen charts for comparison, and to extract precise positions from UCAC3, SPM4, 2MASS and others. Modern photometry (V, B-V) from Tycho-2 was used to confirm identities, while the VizieR page at CDS was used to access other data as required. References: McCuskey, S.W. 1964. Astron. J. 69,104
Updated values for McGruder’s O-B5 Stars in Centaurus Catalogue by Mati Morel, created:2014.
About forty years ago McGruder (1975) published a catalogue of 417 stars of spectral types O-B5 in Centaurus. Coordinates for B1950, photographic UBV data and spectral types were given. It is now possible to identify all objects with certainty, and to resolve anomalies in the photographic photometry by comparison with high-quality recent data, and to assess its general accuracy. The dataset in updated form now provides accurate BV data for more than 300 stars.
Having contacted Brian Skiff (2014), Lowell Observatory, I am advised that there is no evidence of follow-up to confirm McGruder’s OB stars, and his UBV data proves to be so noisy it is of little value in the professional realm. Consequently the 1975 paper and list have been largely ignored.
As the work done here now provides a reliable sequence of BV photometry for more than 300 stars in southern Centaurus it can be made available for other purposes. Note that Nova Cen 2005 = V1047 Cen appeared in the midst of this same field.
Purpose: To update the original Russian publication, with J2000 positions, and to substitute English words and terms for the Russian. Some errors are corrected.
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For more detailed, refer to the January 2020 edition of the VSS Newsletter.
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Database for N. Sanduleak’s LMC Supergiants. Zones -65° TO -72°. Purpose: To provide improved astrometric positions, UBV photometry and cross-references to GSC ids., all updated from the original catalogue published by Sanduleak in 1970.
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