AAVSO: American Association of Variable Star Observers

AGB: asymptotic giant branch (in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram)

AGN: active galactic nucleus

ASAS: All-sky Automated Survey

AU: astronomical unit

BAA: British Astronomical Association

BC: bolometric correction

BV: Bamberg variable

CCD: charge-coupled device

CGRO: Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (satellite)

CDS: Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg

COROT: COnvection, ROtation, and planetary Transits (satellite)

CSV: Catalog of Suspected Variable Stars

CTTS: classical T Tauri stars

CV: cataclysmic variable

EUVE: Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (satellite)

GAIA: Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (satellite)

GALEX: GALaxy evolution EXplorer (satellite)

GCVS: General Catalogue of Variable Stars

GPB: Gravity Probe B (satellite)

GRB: gamma-ray burst

HC: heliocentric correction

HD: Henry Draper (catalogue);: HDE: HD Extension

H-R: Hertzsprung-Russell; H-R diagram;

HST: Hubble Space Telescope (satellite)

IAU: International Astronomical Union

IBVS: IAU Information Bulletin on Variable Stars

IR: infrared

IUE: International Ultraviolet Explorer (satellite)

JD: Julian Date

LMC: Large Magellanic Cloud (galaxy)

L∩: solar luminosity - 3.85 x 1026 Watts

MACHO: MAssive Compact Halo Object (also project of this name)

MOST: Microvariability and Oscillations of STars (satellite)

M∩: solar mass - 1.9891 x 1030 kg

NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)

NSF: National Science Foundation (US)

NSV: New Catalog of Suspected Variable Stars

O - C: observed - computed (method)

OGLE: Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment

PL: period–luminosity (relation)

PMS: pre-main sequence

RA: right ascension; Dec.: declination

RASNZ: Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand ROSAT: Röntgen Satellite