IAU XXVIth General Assembly,

Prague, 2006

 

 

 

N.N. Samus

Moscow, the GCVS team

 

 

 

The draft classification (version August 9, 2006) for new GCVS versions

 

 

Along with the "+" sign (coexistence of two types), it is suggested to introduce the "|" sign (meaning "or") – for classification options for the same object, e.g. EC|Ell, EC|RR.

 

Pulsating variables

 

Present:                                                                                 Suggested:

ACYG                                                                                   ACyg

BCEP, BCEPS                                                                       BCep (BCEPS, after Jakate, seem not justified)

CEP                                                                                       Cep

DCEP, DCEPS, CEP(B)                                                        DCep, DCep0, DCep1, DCepB01, DCepB12

Remark: 0 – fundamental, 1 – 1st overtone, 01 – fundamental plus overtone, 12 – 1st and 2nd overtones. For non-beat Cepheids, it is safer not to indicate the mode yet

CW, CWA, CWB                                                                  CW (period will also be given)

DSCT, DSCTC, SXPHE                                                       DSct (amplitude will also be given, population membership is not always obvious)

L, LB, LC                                                                               L, Lb (for red stars)

M                                                                                           M

PVTEL                                                                                   PVTel

RR, RRAB, RRC, RR(B)                                                      RR, RR0, RR1, RRB01

RV, RVA, RVB                                                                     RV, RVb (if the secondary wave's amplitude is at least equal to that of the main oscillation)

SR, SRA, SRB, SRC, SRS                                                    SR (the regularity level should be indicated by the presentation of the light elements; if a star is a supergiant, it will be obvious from its spectral type)

SRD                                                                                       SRd (we feel not inclined to introduce the UU Her type)

ZZ, ZZA, ZZB, ZZO                                                               ZZ (subtype is contained in the spectral type)

BLBOO                                                                                 BLBoo

GDOR                                                                                   GDor

RPHS                                                                                     RPHS (rapidly pulsating hot subdwarfs. We repeat our call for suggestions of a better designation).

LPB or LBV                                                                           SPB

 

Eruptive variables

 

FU, I, IA, IB, INA, INB, INT, IT, IN(YY), IS, ISA, ISB       I, TT, TTc, TTw, HAeBe

Remark: I is for irregulars with doubts about their being young, TTc for classical and TTw, for weak-lined T Tauri stars, HAeBe for Herbig Ae/Be stars

GCAS, BE                                                                             Be

RCB                                                                                       RCB

RS                                                                                          Move to rotating variables

SDOR                                                                                    SDor

UV, UVN                                                                               UV

WR                                                                                        WR

                                                                                              New type: PP (a proto-planetary

                                                                                              object)

                                                                                              New type: dL (L dwarf), the causes                                                                                                of variability not quite clear yet

 

Rotating variables

 

ACV, SXARI                                                                         ACV

ACVO                                                                                    roAp, ACV+roAp

BY                                                                                         BY; also should include chromospherically active giants

ELL                                                                                        Ell

FKCOM                                                                                 FKCom

PSR                                                                                       Psr

R                                                                                            R

                                                                                              RS (earlier among eruptive)

 

Cataclysmic variables and other stars with outbursts

 

                                                                                              No subtype: CV

N, NA, NB                                                                             N, Nhf (final helium flash; suggestions of a different designation are welcome)

NR                                                                                         Nr, NSym (symbiotic Nova),

                                                                                              UGWZ (see below)

NC                                                                                         NSym

NL                                                                                         CV, UXUMa ("permanent outburst"), VY (VY Scl type, fadings from time to time)

SN, SNI, SNII                                                                        SN (to avoid introducing the current complex classification)

AM                                                                                        AM (including XM from X-ray variables), DQ (intermediate polars)

UG, UGSS, UGZ                                                                    UG, UGSS, UGZ

 

UGSU                                                                                    UGSU, UGWZ (WZ Sge type, extremely long supercycles, large amplitudes), UG_ER (ER UMa type, short supercycles and normal cycles, small amplitudes; ideas of a better abbreviation are welcome)

ZAND                                                                                    Sym, NSym

 

 

Eclipsing variables (the description of the class should not mention close binarity)

 

E, EA, EB, EW, EP                                                               E, EA, EC – contact

                                                                                              (merging EB and EW), EP

PN, WD, WR                                                                         Remove from the classification,                                                                                                          indicate through the spectral type                                                                                                  or Remarks

RS                                                                                          If such a star has eclipses, give notation like EA+RS, RS+EA

AR, D, DM, DS, DW, K, KE, KW, SD                                 Remove from the classification:

as a rule, these types in the GCVS are based on indirect evidence

 

X-ray variables

 

X, XB, XF, XI, XJ, XND, XNG, XP, XPR, XPRM, XM      AM (move to cataclysmics), X, XN, XNB (approximately corresponds to XNG, a B star orbiting a compact object), Xlm (low mass), Xhm (high mass), Xmq (microquasars). In this class, advice from experts is especially needed.