Jay wrote in another thread:

Kurt, On another note I enjoyed your comments to S&T in the Sept. issue the coordinate system they use. Perhaps it needs its own thread here but I do look forward to reading what others think on it. Jay

Jay, The idea behind the letter to the editor was that we are in the urban astronomy era with GOTO scopes, and amateurs might as well get with the program in order to increase hobby participation. By cross-referencing stars in S&T lists to SAO numbers, S&T can increase participation rates. After a long work day, people can just pull out their hand controllers and plug in the SAO number. Similarly, DSO lists should include the SAO reference to a nearby alignment sync star. The S&T editorial response was that the magazine did not have enough space in order to include such references. S&T's reply did not hold much weight. S&T was redesigned within the last few years, and the magazine now features large eye-catching photographs at the start of each article in order to attract a general public audience. The article leader pictures could be reduced in size by 10 percent, still achieve their marketing objectives, but leave more room of SAO references. Unfortunately, unlike SAO hand-controller entries, a user cannot sync align on RA-DEC positions provided by S&T. - Clear skies, Kurt P.S. - I feel that amateur astronomy may have another renaissance in the next five years. GOTO scopes have removed the learning curve entry barrier, but light pollution is holding hobby growth back. The missing technology advance is the a low-cost (near the $150 price point) for Collins I3 type digital image intensifier eyepieces. Such eyepieces would reopen the night sky in real time for beginning urban amateurs under light polluted skies. Unfortunately, the Collins I3 digital eyepieces are $3000. A low cost next generation device seems possible.