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Hi Andrew & All,
Leaving aside all philosophical arguments over whether these two objects ought to have a popular name (moniker), I have been ponderng what might possibly be fitting for these two "Markque" objects not only of the southern sky, but the whole sky.
Following to some extent the naming of M13 as the "Great Globular Cluster in Hercules", perhaps we ought to use the word "great" connected to the character Centaurus represents -- that quite singular son of a Titan, Chiron? Not only would it be in line with M13s moniker but it points the inquiring mind to consider the constellation's ancient lineage (as indeed the cluster has been known since ancient times).
"Chiron's Great Globular" Perhaps??
As for 47 Tucanae, unfortunately there is nothing in the constellation in which it resides to help, but of course it is pre-eminent of the globulars close to the SCP (there are no others significantly closer to the SCP and warranting the title "great") and so we could have -
"Great Globular Australis" perhaps?
These names are not culture specific, they say something of the magnitude of the cluster and their position and don't sound like "recent inventions" - they have the flavour of the more ancient common names and there is no hint of commercial products -- there go most of my objections.
Just a thought.
Best,
Les D
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