ACDS V10.0 - Thu Apr 18 08:55:38 CEST 2019
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Detailed Description of B/gcvs :
General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+, 2007-2017)
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Note : this is the description file of the original catalog.
This HTML page corresponds well to the original description, but some minor
changes in the format may have been introduced in the FITS output
files in order to allow for arithmetic operations on quantities
such as coordinates and times. h:m:s and d:m:s units are normally
converted into degrees, and YYYY-MM-DD into julian days.
Similarly, some slight changes may have been introduced in the
units; the value given in the HTML files supersedes the value indicated in the ReadMe
file for this catalogue.
B/gcvs General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+, 2007-2017)
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General catalogue of variable stars: Version GCVS 5.
Samus N.N., Kazarovets E.V., Durlevich O.V., Kireeva N.N., Pastukhova E.N.
<Astron. Zh. 94, 87 (2017)>
=2017ARep...61...80S
=2017AZh....94...87S
================================================================================
ADC_Keywords: Stars, variable ; Combined data
Abstract:
Work aimed at compiling detailed catalogs of variable stars in the
Galaxy, which has been carried out continuously by Moscow
variable-star researchers since 1946 on behalf of the International
Astronomical Union, has entered the stage of the publication of the
5th, completely electronic edition of the General Catalogue of
Variable Stars (GCVS). This paper describes the requirements for the
contents of the 5th edition and the current state of the catalog in
its new version, GCVS 5.1. The complete revision of information for
variable stars in the constellation Carina and the compilation of the
81st Name-list of Variable Stars are considered as examples of work on
the 5th edition. The GCVS 5.1 is freely accessible on the Internet. We
recommend the present paper as a unified reference to the 5th edition
of the GCVS.
Description:
The GCVS is the only reference source on all known variable stars.
This version contains the electronically-readable version as
distributed by the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and Institute of
Astronomy (Russian Acad.Sci.), Moscow. It includes the catalog of
variable stars, updated and completed with the Name-Lists of Variables
Stars Nos. 67-79, the NSV (New catalog of Suspected Variable stars)
and Supplement to the NSV stars, and a catalog of extragalactic
variables. A cross-index makes possible to find out identifications
between the GCVS and the NSV catalogue.
After the publication of Volume III of the 4th edition of the GCVS,
the subsequent Name-lists with numbers from 67 to 77 contained only
names of variable stars in the GCVS systems, together with their
coordinates and variability types. We actually started compiling the
5th edition of the GCVS ten years ago, with the 78th Name-list of
Variable Stars, which provided (as did all subsequent Name-lists)
complete GCVS information for each star (in addition to the
variability types, ranges of brightness variations, epochs of
brightness maxima or minima, periods, etc.). In all, the 78th-81st
Name-lists contain more than 13300 variable stars. The complete
revision of information on the coordinates of variable stars (see
Introduction) was also a part of the transition to the 5th edition.
The pesent improved electronic version of the GCVS5, combined with
Name-Lists of Variable Stars Nos. 67-81 and NSV catalogue and
supplement is also available from Sternberg Institute of Moscow
University, or http://www.sai.msu.su/gcvs/gcvs/
The GCVS 5.1 version contains data for 52011 individual variable
objects discovered and named as variable stars by 2015 and located
mainly in the Milky Way galaxy. Also, there are 158 objects that are
non-existing, non-stellar, or stars erroneously named for the second
time. The stars of the GCVS 5.1 are stars of the GCVS fourth edition
plus Name-lists Nos. 67-81. The stars from the Name-lists
Nos. 78-81 are presented in the complete GCVS format. Complete
information for stars of the Name-lists Nos. 67-77 is so far
provided in the first 18 constellations (Andromeda Cassiopeia). In
these constellations, the GCVS information has been completely revised
with active use of new publications as well as observations retrieved
by the GCVS compilers by data mining and used to determine new
variability types and new light elements whenever possible. We
continue this work and will introduce new data for the next
constellations as soon as they are ready. Upon recommendations of the
IAU Commissions 27 and 42, in 2006, we developed a new experimental
system of classification for variable stars.
gcvs_cat.dat is the combined computer-readable version of the GCVS4.2
Vols. I-III (Kholopov et al. 1985-1988) and Name-Lists of Variable
Stars Nos. 67-81 published in the system introduced during the
preparation of the 5th GCVS edition; the stars are arranged in the
order of their names inside constellations. The total number of
designated variable stars has now reached 52011. Errors detected in
the printed Volumes I-III and in the Name-Lists were corrected; the
file includes also improved positional information, light elements,
classifications etc.
For 51606 variable stars, our version provides new equatorial J2000.0
coordinates (right ascensions to within 0.01s and declinations to
within 0.1"), for 23934 stars with allowance for their proper motions.
crossid.dat is the cross-identification tables of the General
Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) contain all GCVS (including
variables from the Catalogue of Extragalactic Variable stars), NSV
(New Catalogue of Suspected Variable stars) and Supplement to the NSV
stars as well as stars from the name-lists of variable stars nos. 67 -
81; it also makes it possible to find out identifications between the
GCVS and the NSV catalogue.
The final, Volume V (extragalactic variable stars) contains 10979
variable stars in 35 stellar systems (including the Magellanic Clouds,
the large galaxies in Andromeda and Triangulum, etc., see evs*.dat).
File Summary:
FileName Lrecl Records Explanations
× 80 . This file
× ReadMe 80 . This file
× gcvs_cat.dat 237 53302 GCVS catalog (GCVS 5.1, version March, 2017)
× gcvs_rem.dat 80 15731 GCVS remarks
× vartype.txt 121 1497 Description of GCVS Variability Types
× constel.txt 72 32 Numerical Codes for Constellations and Letters
× crossid.dat 48 210090 Cross-Identifications (Vol. V)
× abbrev.txt 77 256 Abbreviations of catalogues used in crossid.dat
× nsv_cat.dat 149 26018 NSV and supplement
× nsv_rem.dat 80 10807 NSV and NSVS remarks
× evs_cat.dat 160 10979 Extragalactic Variable Stars. Catalogue (Vol. V)
× evs_rem.dat 80 1936 Extragalactic Variable Stars. Remarks
× refs.dat 80 23992 References
× ref_abbr.txt 264 318 Abbreviations used for references
See also:
B/sn : Asiago Supernova Catalogue (Barbon et al., 1999-2008)
II/256 : Sternberg Supernova Catalogue, 2004 version (Tsvetkov+, 2004)
http://www.sai.msu.su/gcvs/gcvs/ : the GCVS Group Home Page
ftp://zeus.sai.msu.ru/pub/groups/cluster/gcvs/gcvs/gcvs5 : GCVS5 Home Page
Byte-by-byte Description of file: gcvs_cat.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 6 I06 --- VarNum Numeric designation, made from constellation
and star names (codes in file "constel.txt")
7 A1 --- m_VarNum Component identification (1)
9- 18 A10 --- GCVS Variable star designation (2)
19 A1 --- n_GCVS [*] indicates a remark in "gcvs_rem.dat" file
21- 22 I2 h RAh ? Hours RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
23- 24 I2 min RAm ? Minutes RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
25- 29 F5.2 s RAs ? Seconds RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
31 A1 --- DE- Sign Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
32- 33 I2 deg DEd ? Degrees Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
34- 35 I2 arcmin DEm ? Minutes Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
36- 39 F4.1 arcsec DEs ? Seconds Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
40 A1 --- u_DEs [:] position accuracy flag (G2)
42- 51 A10 --- VarType Type of variability (see file "vartype.txt")
53 A1 --- l_magMax [<>(] Limit or amplitude symbol on
magMax (G3)
54- 59 F6.3 mag magMax ? Magnitude at maximum brightness
60 A1 --- u_magMax Uncertainty flag (:) on magMax
63- 64 A2 --- l_Min1 [< (] Limit or amplitude symbol on Min1 (G3)
65- 70 F6.3 mag Min1 ? Minimum I magnitude or amplitude
71 A1 --- u_Min1 Uncertainty flag (:) on magMinI
72- 73 A2 --- n_Min1 Alternative photometric system for Min1 (G4)
74 A1 --- --- [)] ) if Min1 is an amplitude
76- 77 A2 --- l_Min2 [< (] Limit or amplitude symbol on Min2 (G3)
78- 83 F6.3 mag Min2 ? Minimum II magnitude or amplitude
84 A1 --- u_Min2 Uncertainty flag (:) on magMinII
85- 86 A2 --- n_Min2 Alternative photometric system for Min2 (G4)
87 A1 --- --- [)] ")" if Min2 is an amplitude
89- 90 A2 --- flt The photometric system for magnitudes (G4)
92-102 F11.5 d Epoch ? Epoch for maximum light, Julian days (G5)
103 A1 --- u_Epoch [:+-] Uncertainty flag on Epoch (6)
105-108 A4 --- Year Year of outburst for nova or supernova
109 A1 --- u_Year [:] Quality flag on Year of outburst
111 A1 --- l_Period [<>(] Code for upper or lower limits (7)
112-127 F16.10 d Period ? Period of the variable star
128 A1 --- u_Period [:] Uncertainty flag (:) on Period
129-131 A3 --- n_Period [*/N) 2] Flag on Period (8)
133-135 A3 % M-m/D Rising time (M-m) or
duration of eclipse (D) (G6)
136 A1 --- u_M-m/D Uncertainty flag (:) on M-m/D
137 A1 --- n_M-m/D [*: ] Note for eclipsing variable (G6)
139-155 A17 --- SpType Spectral type
157-161 A5 --- Ref1 Reference to a study of the star (G7)
163-167 A5 --- Ref2 Reference to a chart or photograph (G7)
169-180 A12 --- Exists Cases of non-existence of the variable
etc. (12)
181-186 F6.3 arcsec/yr pmRA ? Proper motion RA
188-193 F6.3 arcsec/yr pmDE ? Proper motion DE
195-202 F8.3 yr Ep-coor ? Epoch of the coordinates (13)
204 A1 --- u_Ident [?] Uncertainty flag (?) on
identification (14)
206-215 A10 --- Ident The source of astrometric data (15)
216-225 A10 --- VarTypeII The new type of variability (16)
227-237 A11 --- VarName Variable star designation (17)
Note (1): designations of components of double/multiple stars:
A,B; 1,2,3 ... (tau 1). Usually only one component of the binary
is variable, but there exist two cases (CE Cas A,B; EQ Peg A,B) when
both components are variable and enter the catalogue as separate lines.
Note (2): traditional transliterations of greek letters
are used. Lower- and upper-case latin letters must be distinguished
(e.g. u Her and U Her).
Note (6): the following codes are used (see also note on Epoch):
":" are used if the epoch is uncertain
"+" epoch may be later than that reported
"-" epoch may be earlier than that reported.
Note (7): the following codes are used:
">" or"<" if period is a lower or upper limit, respectively
"(": the period is the mean cycle time of a U Gem or recurrent nova
(in this case, there is ")" in pos. 129).
Note (8): the following codes are used:
"*N" if the period may be a multiple of the quoted value
"/N" if the period may be a fraction of the quoted value
")" - see the note on l_Period.
Note (12): "=" in byte 169 appears in two cases.
First, it is used if the variable is equivalent to another cataloged
variable. In such case, after the "=" symbol, the alternative name
of the variable follows, and all necessary information on the star is
to be found under that alternative name.
Second, the "=" symbol may be followed by the star's
name in the Catalogue of Extragalactic Variable stars, evs_cat.dat
Note (13): Epoch of the given coordinates. No epoch is provided when using the
coordinates from the literature if the epoch was no specified in the
publication and cold not be established;
Note (14): The variable star's identification with the source catalog is
uncertain.
Note (15): A brief designation of the source of astrometric data.
In several cases, the catalog designation is folowed
by the symbol "+pm"; it implies that the position for a certain epoch
was taken from the catalog and reduced to the epoch 2000.0 using
information on the star's proper motion from a different source.
Note (16): Upon recommendations of the IAU Commissions 27 and 42, in 2006,
we developed a new experimental system of classification for variable stars.
Note (17): The repetition of the GCVS name.
Below, we give a list of the major catalogs and other data sources used,
roghly in the order of our preference in identifying variable stars
(see also the description of the catalogs provided for A.A. Volchkov's
visualization code we used at www.simfov.ru).
Hip - The Hipparcos Catalogue (ESA 1997).
Tyc2 - The Tycho Catalogue (Hog et al. 2000). In isolated instances
where the star is absent in the second Tycho catalogue but is present in
the first catalogue (ESA 1997), the source is indicated as Tyc1.
UCAC2 - US Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (Zacharias et al.,
2004).
PPM - The Positions and Proper Motions (Roser et al. 1991-1993).
NPM - The Lick Northern Proper Motion Program (Klemola et al. 1987).
AC - The Four-Million Star Catalog (see Gulyaev and Nesterov 1992).
ACT - The ACT Reference Catalog (Urban et al. 1997).
GSC 2.2 - The Guide Star Catalog, Version 2.2.01, 2001, Space Telescope
Science, Institute and Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino.
GSC - The Guide Star Catalog (Lasker et al. 1990). The symbol "ns"
accompanying a GSC reference implies that the entry is marked as a
nonstellar object in the cited catalog.
A2.0, B1.0 - A Catalog of Astrometric Standards (Monet et
al., 1998) (there were rare cases when the star could be found only in the
previous version of the catalogue, marked as A1.0); The Whole-Sky USNO-B1.0
Catalog of 1 045 913 669 Sources (Monet et al., 2003).
2MASS - The Two Micron All Sky Survey (Cutri et al., 2003).
GCVS - For some 10 stars, the coordinates were measured by the authors using
Digitized Sky Survey images, plates from different collections, or other
images.
Lit. - The coordinates taken from current astronomical periodicals.
Byte-by-byte Description of file: gcvs_rem.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 12 A12 --- GCVS Variable star designation
14- 80 A67 --- Text Text of note
Byte-by-byte Description of file: crossid.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 32 A32 --- Name Alternative name (catalog or list acronym is
detailed in the file "abbrev.txt") (1)
33 A1 --- --- [=]
34- 45 A12 --- VarName Designation in GCVS or NSV or in Catalogue of
Extragalactic Variable stars (1)
48 A1 --- u_VarName [:? ] Flag for doubtful identifications
Note (1): Designations of components of double/multiple stars:
A,B,C ...; a,b,c ...; 1,2,3 ...;
the symbols P = preceding, F = following, N = northern,
S = southern may also appear.
In the cases of ADS 03201 and ADS 03202 the symbols k1 and k2 mean kappa 1
and kappa 2, respectively.
Byte-by-byte Description of file: nsv_cat.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 5 I05 --- NSV NSV number (above 15000 for the Supplement)
6 A1 --- m_NSV NSV letter suffix (1)
7 A1 --- u_NSV [-] Dubitancy flag
if a star's variability seems doubtful
or erroneous to the catalog compilers
8 A1 --- n_NSV [*] Notes in published catalog or
remark in file "nsv.rem.dat" (2)
10- 11 I2 h RA1950h ? Hours RA, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
12- 13 I2 min RA1950m ? Minutes RA, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
14- 17 F4.1 s RA1950s ? Seconds RA, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
18 A1 --- DE1950- Sign Dec, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
19- 20 I2 deg DE1950d ? Degrees Dec, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
21- 22 I2 arcmin DE1950m ? Minutes Dec, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
23- 24 I2 arcsec DE1950s ? Seconds Dec, equinox B1950.0 (G1)
25- 26 A2 --- u_DE1950s [:* ] accuracy flags (G2)
27 A1 --- IDflag [?:*I] Flag for doubtful identification
28- 29 I2 h RAh ? Hours RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
30- 31 I2 min RAm ? Minutes RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
32- 35 F4.1 s RAs ? Seconds RA, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
36 A1 --- DE- Sign Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
37- 38 I2 deg DEd ? Degrees Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
39- 40 I2 arcmin DEm ? Minutes Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
41- 42 I2 arcsec DEs ? Seconds Dec, equinox J2000.0 (G1)
44 A1 --- u_DEs [:*|] accuracy flags (G2)
46- 51 A6 --- VarType ? Type of variability (3)
53 A1 --- l_magMax [><(] Limit or amplitude symbol on magMax (G3)
54- 58 F5.2 mag magMax ? Magnitude at maximum brightness (4)
59 A1 --- u_magMax [:] Uncertainty flag on magMax
61- 62 A2 --- l_magMin [><( ] Limit symbol on magMin (G3)
63- 68 F6.3 mag magMin ? Minimum magnitude or amplitude (4)
69 A1 --- n_magMin The photometric system for amplitudes (G4)
70- 71 A2 --- u_magMin [st: ] a light amplitude is reported for
the minimum and it is given in steps
Uncertainty flag (:) on magMin
72 A1 --- --- [)] ")" if magMin is an amplitude
74- 75 A2 --- flt The photometric system for magnitudes (G4)
77- 81 A5 --- Ref1 Reference to a study of the star (G7)
83- 87 A5 --- Ref2 Chart reference (G7)
89-102 A14 --- Desig Designation in paper Ref1 (8)
104-118 A15 --- SpType Spectral type (9)
120-127 A8 --- SpType2 Spectral type from HD catalog in brackets (9)
128 A1 --- f_NSV [=|] '=' for named variables
129-149 A21 --- VarName Designation in GCVS (G8)
Note (1): The letter "A" is present for one star, NSV 10360A, which is a
completely different object from NSV 10360.
Note (2): see the document by Kukarkin et al. (New Catalogue of Suspected
Variable Stars (Nauka, Moscow, 1982)
There are several data fields that can contain asterisks. These signify
that more complete information will be found in the remarks to the
published catalog. The remarks are, unfortunately, not machine
readable, but they do contain much supplemental information. There, one
will find information covering situations like, e.g.:
1. The discoverer of the light variability is not the author of the
paper cited in the variability reference, or is one of several authors
of the paper cited. In these cases, discoverers' names are given
in original transcriptions of the remarks.
2. The most important additional information about a star, although the
NSV compilers did not intend to present complete bibliographies for any
cataloged stars.
3. Remarks for visual binaries (in parentheses following the number of a
star in the corresponding catalog) giving visual magnitudes for the
individual components A and B, angular separations, and position angles
for faint components (or semimajor axis of a relative orbit and period
of orbital motion). Data for other components are then given where
applicable. (Combined magnitudes are generally reported in the
machine-readable table.)
Note (3): type of variability (see file vartype.txt).
The system of variable star classification corresponds to the GCVS4,
with six additions (ZZO, AM, R, BE, LBV, BLBOO) introduced in the
Name-Lists 67- 72 and in the GCVS vol.V.
Note (4): The star's magnitude in minimum and maximum brightness.
Instead of the magnitude in minimum, the star's amplitude of variation may
be indicated (in brackets). Magnitudes are reported to hundredths if the
observations are photoelectric or CCD, to tenths or whole magnitudes if they
are not. If only an amplitude has been measured photoelectrically, then
the maximum magnitude is generally given to tenths only and the minimum
is reported to hundredths.
Note (8): The identification of the suspected variable in the
paper referenced above. DM numbers are given without a prefix, the
standard naming convention of "The Henry Draper Catalogue" being used
(BD for zones +89 to -22; CD for -23 to -51; CP for -52 to -89).
Some identifications are given by coordinate designations, a 6-digit
number consisting of hours, minutes, and seconds (or tenths of a minute)
of time and degrees of declination with sign included. An asterisk (*)
signifies that a designation is given in the remarks to the published
catalog.
Stars are sometimes designated with numbers from the catalogs of Zinner
(ZI, 1929) and Prager (PR, 1934, 1937) because the original discovery
publications were not available to the NSV compilers. The catalogs of
Zinner and Prager give detailed references to early observations of such
stars.
Note (9): For NSV, Spectral types and subtypes only are given.
Most luminosity classes are III to V, but if a star is a supergiant,
more detailed classification information is given in the remarks to the
published catalog. The following symbols are used:
AF A-F
AM Am
AP Ap
BE Be
E emission spectrum
EA e sub alpha
EV variable emission in spectrum
FG F-G
KM K-M
OF Of
PD Pd
T characteristics of T Tauri stars
For NSVS, Spectral types, subtypes and luminosity classes are given.
More detailed classification information is given in the remarks to the
catalog.
Also the following symbols are used:
AF A-F
cont continuum
e emission spectrum
ea e sub alpha
FG F-G
KM K-M
* see Sp type in remarks
Byte-by-byte Description of file: nsv_rem.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 5 I05 --- NSV NSV number (above 15000 for the Supplement)
7- 80 A74 --- Text Text of remark
Byte-by-byte Description of file: evs_cat.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 7 I07 --- VarNum [890001/1230042] Variable number (1)
9- 20 A12 --- Name Variable star designation (3)
21 A1 --- n_Name [*] indicates a remark in file evs_rem.dat
22- 23 I2 h RAh Right ascension, equinox B1950.0
24- 25 I2 min RAm (minutes)
26- 30 F5.2 s RAs (seconds)
31 A1 --- DE- sign of declination, B1950.0
32- 33 I2 deg DEd Declination, equinox B1950.0
34- 35 I2 arcmin DEm (arc minutes)
36- 39 F4.1 arcsec DEs (arc seconds)
40 A1 --- u_DEs [":*!] accuracy flags on position (G2)
41- 48 A8 --- VarType Type of variability (see file "vartype.txt")
49- 53 F5.2 mag magMax ? Magnitude at maximum brightness
54 A1 --- u_magMax Uncertainty flag (:) on magMax
55 A1 --- l_magMin [<(] Limit or amplitude symbol on magMax (G3)
56- 61 F6.3 mag magMin ? Magnitude at minimum brightness or amplitude
62 A1 --- u_magMin Uncertainty flag (:) on magMin
63 A1 --- --- [)] ")" if magMin is an amplitude
64 A1 --- flt The photometric system for magnitudes (G4)
65- 78 F14.6 d Epoch ? Epoch for maximum light, Julian days (G5)
79 A1 --- u_Epoch Uncertainty flag on Epoch
80 A1 --- l_P [(] if mean cycle time of U Gem-type variable
81- 93 F13.8 d P ? Period (mean for U Gem-type)
94 A1 --- u_P Uncertainty flag (:) on P
95 A1 --- --- [)] for U Gem-type variable
96- 97 I2 % M-m/D ? Rising time or duration of eclipse (G6)
98 A1 --- u_M-m/D Uncertainty flag (:) on M-m/D
99 A1 --- n_M-m/D [*] Note for eclipsing variable (G6)
100-105 A6 --- SpType Spectral type (4)
107-111 A5 --- Ref1 Reference for study of the star (G7)
112-116 A5 --- Ref2 Reference for chart or photograph (G7)
118-131 A14 --- Desig1 designation in paper Ref1
132-143 A12 --- Desig2 designation in paper Ref2
144-152 A9 --- VarName Designation in GCVS (G8)
154-155 A2 --- Mm [n: ] Non-member note (5)
156-159 I4 yr Year ? Year of outburst for novae or supernovae
160 A1 --- u_Year [:] Uncertainty flag on YearNova
Note (1): Number of the variable star.
This numbering system is made of a 3-digit number identifying the
galaxy, followed by a 4-digit number identifying the variable in the
galaxy. The numbering system for galaxies begins with 089, the first
88 codes being reserved for constellations (cf. column "VarNum" in
file "gcvs_cat.dat")
If in the literature for the considered galaxy there exist several
different variable star numbering systems, we have introduced new
numbers in the order of increasing right ascension for the equinox
1950.0. But if the variable star numbering system for the galaxy is
practically of general use, we have retained it - if necessary, with
additional numbers ordered by increasing right ascension.
Note (3): Variable star Designation.
The name of the variable in the adopted system of variable star
designations: name of the galaxy + "V" + variable star No. within the
galaxy (see column VarNo)
Note (4):
If there exist several spectral type determinations for a star, we
preferred more recent ones, taking into account reliability of each
determination. We converted symbols "d" (dwarfs) and "g" (giants) into
luminosity classes V and III. If a nova showed spectral features
typical of novae during or after the outburst, a symbol (NOVA) is
given in this column. If the spectrum shows features characteristic of
U Gem variables, this column contains the symbol (UG). Continuous
spectrum is designated "cont", the symbol "e" means emission spectrum,
lower case letters "ea", "eb" in this column stand for "e alpha", "e
beta". For RR Lyrae stars, spectral types from hydrogen lines are
given. A plus sign (+) between two spectral type values means that
spectra of two components of a spectroscopic binary are observed. Two
spectral type values separated with a minus sign (-) mean the range of
spectral type variations in the process of brightness changes.
Note (5):
Symbols "n" or "n:" for "nonmembers" or "possible nonmembers" of the
galaxy in question. For the stars that enter the GCVS vols. I-III
(file gcvs_cat.dat) or the NSV catalogue (file "nsv_cat.dat") and are
not members of the corresponding galaxy, the present volume gives only
the running number, coordinates, the symbol "n", and the GCVS or NSV
name.
Byte-by-byte Description of file: evs_rem.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 12 A12 --- Name Variable star designation
14- 80 A67 --- Text Text of remark
Byte-by-byte Description of file: refs.dat
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
1- 5 A5 --- Ref Reference number (G7)
7- 80 A74 --- Text Text of reference
Global Notes:
Note (G1):
the position is not listed when the variable is equivalent to another
catalogued variable ("=" in column Exists, byte 168).
Note (G2):
(:) a flag indicating that the coordinates are actually rougher than
the accuracy standard adopted in the this table.
The actual accuracy of coordinates is indicated with the symbols:
(:) means right ascensions accurate to one second of time and
declinations accurate to one tenth of an arcminute;
(*) means declinations accurate to one arcminute.
Note (G3):
The symbols are:
">" to indicate a faint limit
"<" to indicate a bright limit
"(" to indicate a that the value represents an amplitude
Note (G4):
Code for photometric system.
Field is non-blank if magMin is a magnitude or amplitude given in a
system other than that indicated by magCode.
The main codes are p (or P, PH, pg) (photographic magnitudes) and
V (visual, photovisual, or Johnson's V).
Several stars from the 68th Name-List have in these positions
"1." designating the 1.04 µm band of the
system introduced by G.W.Lockwood. The designations u,v,b,y refer to
the Stroemgren system. The symbols "Ic" and "Rc" mean magnitudes in
Cousins' I system. "g" designates magnitudes in the system of Thuan
and Gunn; "T" stands for broad-band Tycho magnitudes formed from B and
V measurements; "r" are red magnitudes not tied to a particular
system. An asterisk "*" in the corresponding position means a measurement
in white light.
The designations u, v, b, y refer to the Stroemgren system. The symbols
Ic, Rc mean magnitudes in Cousins' I, R system; Hp, T - in Hipparcos
and Tycho mission systems; J, H, K, L, M - infrared magnitudes.
G - Gaia magnitude
u', g' r' i' - SDSS photmetric system
See also the documents by Kholopov et al. (1985-1988) or Warren (1988).
Note (G5):
Epochs are given for minimum light for all eclipsing and ellipsoidal
variables, as well as for RV Tau and RS CVn types, and for maximum for
all other types. This rule may occasionally be broken, but this is
explained only in the remarks to the catalog, which are not available
in machine-readable form at this time.
The epochs are Julian dates, with the starting figures 24... omitted;
The only exception is WY Sge, where the complete epoch is JD 237249:.
The codes ":" are used if the epoch is uncertain.
Note (G6):
(M-m) or (D) values help to define the shape of the light curve,
expressed as a percentage of the period of the variable:
-- duration of the eclipse (D) for eclipsing binaries;
-- duration of the rising time (m-M) for intrinsic variables.
An asterisk (*) in the column "n_M-m/D" means, for an eclipsing
variable, that the duration of the constant brightness phase in
minimum (d) for this star is equal to zero.
A colon (:) denotes a poor precision.
Note (G7):
All references are detailed in the file "refs.dat".References:
"00001" - if the main characteristics of the star were determined by
the authors themselves.
"00002" - "10204" - GCVS 4.2
"N0001" - "N0412" - New designations GCVS 5.1
"V 001" - "V 554" - Catalogue of Extragalactic Variable stars, evs_ref.dat
"67001" - "81321" - Name-Lists Nos.67-81
" HIP" - The Special Name-List No.74 for Hipparcos Variables.
"n0001" - "n2910" - references to the Suspected variables (first part)
"s0001" - "s2022" - references to the Suspected variables (supplement
If no chart is available for the variable, but the star is contained in
one of the Durchmusterung catalogs or the Hubble Space Telescope Guide
Star Catalog, the corresponding abbreviation
(BD, CPD, CoD, GSC, HIP, USNO, 2MASS, UCAC2) is given.
Note (G8): an alternative name may contain:
* a GCVS name (file "gcvs_dat.dat")
* a "Name-list" number if it starts by the two-digit number 67 to 77,
and is followed by the four-digit number of the star in the
corresponding Name-list.
* the designation of an extragalactic variable (GCVS Vol. V, see file
"evs_cat.dat"). The name may be followed by an asterisk (*) which
means the presence of remarks in Vol. V.
History of the Catalogue:
* February 1992: first version of GCVS 4.0 catalogue (Cat. II/214)
* July 1996: Version 4.1 (Cat. II/214A)
* 30-Jan-2004: Version 4.2 prepared by
N.N. Samus [Moscow Inst. Astron.] and O.V. Durlevich [Sternberg]
* 29-Dec-2004: Version 4.2 prepared at CDS, with merged NSV
catalogues and references (Francois Ochsenbein [CDS], Cat. II/250)
* 26-Jun-2007: Prepared as a regularly updated data-base (B/gcvs)
from files at http://www.sai.msu.su/groups/cluster/gcvs/gcvs/
* 20-Dec-2008: Version 2008-Nov
* 18-Jan-2009: Version 2009-Jan
* 07-Jun-2009: Version 2009-Jun (41639 variables in gcvs_cat.dat)
* 12-Jul-2009: Version 2009-Jul (corrections in nsv_cat.dat)
* 13-Sep-2009: Version 2009-Sep (corrections in crossid.dat)
* 27-Sep-2009: Version 2009-Sep (corrections in gcvs_cat.dat crossid.dat)
* 22-Nov-2009: Version 2009-Sep (corrections in gcvs_cat.dat crossid.dat)
* 31-Jan-2010: Version 2010-Jan (corrections in gcvs, crossid and nsv)
* 25-Jul-2010: Version 2010-Jul (corrections in gcvs_cat, gcvs_rem and refs)
* 26-Sep-2010: Version 2010-Sep (corrections in gcvs_cat, crossid, nsv_rem)
* 31-Oct-2010: Version 2010-Sep (corrections in gcvs_cat, crossid)
* 19-Dec-2010: Version 2010-Dec (corrections in crossid)
* 23-Jan-2011: Version 2011-Jan (changes in remarks, references)
* 23-Feb-2011: File "nsv_cat.dat" for NSV 11783: removed "1 3" in
the "SpType" column (error communicated by Edward J. Sabol)
* 20-Mar-2011: Version 2011-Mar (corrections in gcvs_cat, crossid, nsv)
* 03-Apr-2011: Version 43675 variables
* 15-Apr-2011: Version 2011-Apr (corrections in crossid)
* 26-May-2011: Version 2011-May (corrections in crossid)
* 17-Jul-2011: Version 2011-Jul (corrections in crossid + cat_nsv)
* 15-Jan-2012: Version 2012-Jan (corrections in crossid + gcvs_rem)
* 26-Feb-2012: Version 2012-Feb (45835 variables in gcvs_cat.dat)
* 11-Mar-2012: Version 2012-Mar (additions & correction in crossid + gcvs_rem)
* 15-Apr-2012: Minor changes in gcvs_cat.dat and crossid.dat
* 30-Apr-2013: the "gcvs_cat.dat" file contains new columns with the
secondary minimum characteristics. The catalog includes the
Name List #80 part#3, for a total of 47969 variables (+2134)
* 11-Sep-2017: GCVS 5.1. Version 2017-Mar
* 17-Sep-2018: update
the "gcvs_cat.dat" file contains new columns with the
proper motions and the new type of variablility.
The catalog includes the Name lists 67-81, for a total
of 52011 variables.
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(End) N.N. Samus [Moscow Inst. Astron.], Francois Ochsenbein [CDS] 18-Jan-2009