Key
to Dreyer's Descriptions in the NGC/IC
When J. L. E. Dreyer edited his two main catalogs he included useful
comments in a cryptic shorthand in order to save space. Following is a
key to Dreyer's shorthand descriptions.
* a single star
*10 a star of 10th magnitude
*7-8 star of magnitude 7 or 8
** double star (same as D*)
*** triple star
! remarkable
!! very much so
!!! a magnificent or otherwise interesting object
ab about
alm almost
am among
annul annular or ring nebula
att attached
b brighter
bet between
biN binuclear
bn brightest to north side
bs brightest to south side
bp brightest to preceding (westward) side
bf brightest to following (eastward) side
B bright
c considerably
chev chevelure ("a head of hair")
co coarse, coarsely
com cometic (cometary form)
comp companion
conn connected
cont in contact
C compressed
Cl cluster
d diameter
def defined
dif diffused
diffic difficult
dist distance, or distant
D double
e extremely, excessively
ee most extremely
er easily resolvable
exc eccentric
E extended
f following (eastward)
F faint
g gradually
glob. globular
gr group
i irregular
iF irregular figure
inv involved, involving
l little (adv.); long (adj.)
L large
m much
m magnitude
M middle, or in the middle
n north
neb nebula
nebs nebulous
neby nebulosity
nf north following
np north preceding
ns north-south
nr near
N nucleus, or to a nucleus
p preceding (westward)
pf preceding-following
p pretty (adv., before F. B. L, S)
pg pretty gradually
pm pretty much
ps pretty suddenly
plan planetary nebula (same as PN)
prob probably
P poor (sparse) in stars
PN planetary nebula
r resolvable (mottled, not resolved)
rr partially resolved, some stars seen
rrr well resolved, clearly consisting of stars
R round
RR exactly round
Ri rich in stars
s suddenly (abruptly)
s south
sf south following
sp south preceding
sc scattered
sev several
st stars (pl.)
st 9... stars of 9th magnitude and fainter
st 9..13 stars of magnitude 9 to 13
stell stellar, point-like
susp suspected
S small in angular size
S* small (faint) star
trap trapezium
triangle triangle, forms a triangle with
triN trinuclear
v very
vv very (greater emphasis)
var variable
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