Search for the number adopted in BDA

It is often necessary to search for the number adopted in the database for a star whose number is given in another numbering system. The command tab -c starts an interactive program that does this job.

It first asks the reference number corresponding to the numbering system. If you do not know it, enter 0 and the program will display the list of references. You then enter the successive star numbers, one at a time, and will get the star number adopted in BDA.

0 is used to terminate the query and -1 allows to change the reference used and start another search.

For a letter or a complex number, see the next item.

Example:

tab -c
         Give the reference number:   2

         Which star ?  5
                             No BDA =    103
         Another star ? 7 
                             No BDA =     30
         Another star ? -1

         Give the reference number:  3
         Which star ?  4
                             No BDA =      1
         Another star ?  0