QUALIFIERS:
: - uncertain
/ - and, based on classification simultaneously by components,
. shape of light curve, and degree of filling of Roche lobes
+ - variable belongs to more than one type simultaneously
TYPES:
* - unique; outside range of classification system
? - unstudied
ACV - alpha CVn type rotating variable, strong magnetic field
ACYG - alpha Cyg type pulsating variable
AGN - active galactic nucleus; optically variable
quasi-stellar extragalactic object [GCVS uses GAL]
AM - AM Her (magnetic) eruptive variable (polar variable)
BCEP - beta Cep type pulsating variable
BLLAC - extragalactic BL Lac type object
BY - BY Dra type rotating variable
CEP - Cepheid type pulsating variable
CEP(B) - displaying two or more simultaneously operating
pulsation modes
CWA - W Vir type with period > 8 days
CWB - W Vir type with period < 8 days
DCEP - delta Cep type; classical Cepheid
DCEPS - light amplitude < 0.5 magnitude
CST - non-variable (constant) star, formerly suspected of
variability
CV - cataclysmic (eruptive) variable
DSCT - delta Sct type pulsating variable
E - eclipsing binary system
EA - Algol (beta Per) type
EB - beta Lyr type
EW - W UMa type
ELL - ellipsoidal rotating variable
DM - detached close binary eclipsing system
KW - W UMa type contact close binary eclipsing system
FU - FU Ori type eruptive irregular Orion variable
GCAS - gamma Cas type eruptive irregular variable
GRB - gamma ray burster
GS - system with giant and/or supergiant component(s)
I - irregular, poorly studied, unknown features
IA - irregular, poorly studied, early spectral type
IB - irregular, poorly studied, intermediate-late spectral type
IN - Orion variable; irregular eruptive connected with diffuse
nebulosity
INA - early spectral type, Algol-like fading
INB - intermediate-late spectral type, flares or Algol-like
fading
INS - rapid light changes observed
INSA - early spectral type
INSB - intermediate-late spectral type
INST - T Tau type
INT - T Tau type
IS - rapid irregular variable, no apparent connection with
diffuse nebulosity
ISA - early spectral type
ISB - intermediate-late spectral type
IST - T Tau type
L - irregular; periodicity absent, poorly defined, or
insufficiently studied
LB - slow, irregular late spectral type variables; also, slow red
irregular variables of unknown spectral type
LC - irregular variable late spectral type supergiants
M - Mira type (long period) pulsating variable
N - nova type eruptive system
NA - fast rate of fading
NB - slow rate of fading
NC - remain at maximum light for 10+ years, very slow rate
of fading
NL - novalike
NR - recurrent nova
PN - close binary system including nucleus of planetary nebula
PVTEL - PV Tel type pulsating variable
QSO - quasi-stellar object (quasar)
R - close binary system with strong reflection present
RCB - R CrB type eruptive variable
RR - RR Lyr type pulsating variable
RRAB - asymmetric light curve
RRC - nearly symmetric, sometimes sinusoidal, light curve
RS - RS CVn type eruptive variable
RV - RV Tau type pulsating variable
RVA - does not vary in mean magnitude
RVB - varies in mean magnitude with periodicity
S - unstudied variable with rapid light changes
SD - close binary eclipsing binary, semidetached system
SDOR - S Dor type eruptive variable
SEYFERT - Seyfert galaxay
SN - supernova eruptive variable
SR - semiregular pulsating variable
SRA - giant with persistent periodicity
SRB - giant with poorly expressed periodicity
SRC - supergiant
SRD - giant or supergiant with emission lines in spectrum
SXARI - SX Ari type rotating variable
SXPHE - SX Phe type pulsating variable
UG - U Gem type eruptive variable (dwarf nova)
UGSS - SS Cyg subtype
UGSU - SU UMa subtype
UGZ - Z Cam subtype
UV - UV Cet type eruptive variable; flare star
WD - close binary eclipsing system with white dwarf components
WR - close binary eclipsing system with Wolf-Rayet star component
X - x-ray source, close binary system with one component a hot,
compact object
XBP - x-ray burster, showing optical and x-ray bursts
XI - x-ray irregular
XJ - x-ray binary with relativistic jets evident in x-ray and
radio
XM - x-ray magnetic variable (AM Her type = polar) with no
pulsar or reflection effect
XN - x-ray novalike system
XND - x-ray novalike system containing a dwarf or subgiant
XNGP - x-ray novalike system containing a giant or supergiant
and a pulsar
XP - x-ray pulsar system
XPM - x-ray magnetic variable (AM Her type = polar) with
pulsar but no reflection effect
XPNG - the same as XNGP
XPR - x-ray pulsar system featuring presence of reflection
effect
ZAND - Z And (symbiotic) eruptive variable
ZANDE - with eclipses
ZZ - ZZ Cet type pulsating variable
---END ABBREVIATIONS.---
Last revision 11/20/01