[TASS] publication of variable stars

[Stupendous Man <richmond@A188-L009.RIT.EDU>]

  Yoshida-san brings up a good point:

> In the case of MisV objects, we first reported the
> discovery to VSNET mailing list. Then we write papers for IBVS.
> How about the objects discovered by TASS?
>
> Because this object was already discovered by TASS team, I do not think
> it is proper to attach the new MisV number for it. I am very afraid that
> if you will not publish your new variable stars, nobody will know about
> it, in spite of the two independent discoveries of the variable feature
> by TASS and MISAO.

  I can't speak officially for TASS, because there is no "official"
leadership; we all work on the project in our spare time, according
to our interest.  While this is in some ways one of the strengths
of the TASS project, it can also be a weakness.  In the case of
publishing results, it _is_ a problem.

  Glenn Gombert has published a few of his discoveries to the
IBVS (Information Bulletin on Variable Stars).  Yoshida-san indicates
that this is one of the mechanisms chosen by the MISAO project.
I think that it is a very good idea for TASS workers who notice
variable stars to write up a brief report and send it to the IBVS.
Here's their URL:
                     http://www.konkoly.hu/IBVS/IBVS.html

(I noticed that on September 7, 1999, their WWW server was down due
to a hardware failure).

  Those who want to write reports for the IBVS can go to the
IBVS site and peruse several issues to learn about the expected
format, content and style of papers.  I would suggest that first-time
writers create a draft, make it available via FTP or WWW, and send
a message to the TASS mailing list asking for comments and feedback.

  A question for Yoshida-san and everyone else: it would be best
if all material published in IBVS was recorded in one central
catalog or database ... so that astronomers could make a single
search to check for known variables.  The General Catalog of Variable
Stars (GCVS) used to fulfill this role, but I don't think it can
keep up with recent discoveries.  If all the information could be
entered into SIMBAD, one could simply search there --- but I am not
sure how to submit information to them.  Moreover, I believe they
would much rather receive one list of 100 stars all at once than
100 lists of 1 star each.

  So -- can anyone suggest a good mechanism for reporting
variable-star discoveries, one which allows others to access them
quickly and easily, even years later?

                                           Michael Richmond