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At least 1,351 records · Page 75

Responsibilities and practical limitations in the operation of an astronomical data center

The operation of an astronomical data center requires that many decisions be made concerning the handling of the astronomical catalogs and data distributed. Should a data center be, as Wilkins (1977) described it, passive, in that catalogs and data are collected and distributed blackbox-wise upon request, or should a data center be active and have experts in various fields to scrutinize, correct, reformat, and document data where necessary. These questions will be addressed and illustrated by describing the current operations and future goals of the Astronomical Data Center at NASA/GSFC.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

Benefits and costs of low thrust propulsion systems

The results of costs/benefits analyses of three chemical propulsion systems that are candidates for transferring high density, low volume STS payloads from LEO to GEO are reported. Separate algorithms were developed for benefits and costs of primary propulsion systems (PPS) as functions of the required thrust levels. The life cycle costs of each system were computed based on the developmental, production, and deployment costs. A weighted criteria rating approach was taken for the benefits, with each benefit assigned a value commensurate to its relative worth to the overall system. Support costs were included in the costs modeling. Reference missions from NASA, commercial, and DoD catalog payloads were examined. The program was concluded reliable and flexible for evaluating benefits and costs of launch and orbit transfer for any catalog mission, with the most beneficial PPS being a dedicated low thrust configuration using the RL-10 system.

Robertson, R. I.↗

Organizing Space Shuttle parametric data for maintainability

A model of organization and management of Space Shuttle data is proposed. Shuttle avionics software is parametrically altered by a reconfiguration process for each flight. As the flight rate approaches an operational level, current methods of data management would become increasingly complex. An alternative method is introduced, using modularized standard data, and its implications for data collection, integration, validation, and reconfiguration processes are explored. Information modules are cataloged for later use, and may be combined in several levels for maintenance. For each flight, information modules can then be selected from the catalog at a high level. These concepts take advantage of the reusability of Space Shuttle information to reduce the cost of reconfiguration as flight experience increases.

Angier, R. C.↗

Astronomical and statistical algorithms used in the Space Telescope guide star selection system

The construction of the Space Telescope Guide Star Catalog from digitized Schmidt survey plates covering the entire sky is described. In order to provide sufficient pointing information, the Guide Star Selection System has to contain a catalog of 20 million guide star candidates in the range of 9.0 to 14.5 visual magnitudes. An image inventory process extracts the relevant object data; after photometric and astrometric calibration the data are screened to arrive at suitable guide star candidates. The selection process for a given target takes into account geometric and photometric parameters of the field, scheduling information, and acquisition probabilities for each guide star pair.

Jenkner, H.↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star catalogue (SAO) version 1984

An updated, corrected and extended machine readable version of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory star catalog (SAO) is described. Published and unpublished errors discovered in the previous version have been corrected, and multiple star and supplemental BD identifications added to stars where more than one SAO entry has the same Durchmusterung number. Henry Draper Extension (HDE) numbers have been added for stars found in both volumes of the extension. Data for duplicate SAO entries (those referring to the same star) have been blanked out, but the records themselves have been retained and flagged so that sequencing and record count are identical to the published catalog.

Roman, N. G.↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Survey of the Astrographic Catalogue From 1 to 31 Degrees of Northern Declination (Fresneau 1983)

A description of the machine readable catalog, including detailed format and tape file characteristics, is given. The machine file is a computation of mean values for position and magnitude at a mean epoch of observation for each unique star in the Oxford, Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Northern Hemisphere Algiers zone. The format was changed to effect more efficient data searching by position and additional duplicate entries were removed. The final catalog contains data for 997311 stars.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

Research in extragalactic astrophysics

The spatial distribution of clusters of galaxies and the large scale structure of the universe is investigated. Correlations in the spatial cluster distribution are much stronger than those seen for galaxies, and over scales much larger than previously anticipated. The following main studies are completed and published; (1) The determination of the correlation functions of rich clusters of galaxies, and its dependence on richness and other parameters. Very large scale structure exists in the universe, and rich clusters participate in this structure more efficiently than galaxies. (2) A complete catalog of superclusters, is determined. The selection criteria is that of a volume density enhancement, and is done in 3 dimensions. (3) The giant galaxy void in Bootes is found to be surrouned by rich, large superclusters from the catalog described above. (4) A very large scale void of rich clusters of galaxies is found in the study of the spatial distribution of rich clusters.

Bahcall, N.↗

The S201 far-ultraviolet imaging survey. II - A field in Cygnus

Far-ultraviolet imagery of a region in Cygnus, a 20 deg diameter field centered near (1950) R. A. 21 h 31.2 m decl. +37 deg 25 arcmin, was obtained by the S201 far-ultraviolet camera during the Apollo 16 mission. In a 10 minute exposure covering the 1250-1600 A wavelength range (effective wavelength 1400 A), 730 star images can be detected, corresponding to a limiting ultraviolet magnitude of about m (1400) = 10. Assuming nominal interstellar extinction values in this region near the galactic plane, this result corresponds to the detection of A0 V stars to a distance of 300 pc and of B0 V stars to 1500 pc. Uncertainties in spectral classification and interstellar extinction for individual objects are probably more significant than calibration or measurement errors. Most of the objects detected are identified with stars in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog (1966), or the Catalog of Stellar Identifications (1979) or both, but 87 objects remain unidentified (or are identified with late-type stars).

Carruthers, G. R.↗

The S201 far-ultraviolet imaging survey. III - A field in Sagittarius

Far-ultraviolet imagery of a 20 deg diameter field in Sagittarius, centered near (1950) R.A. 18 h 34 m, decl. -30 deg 25 arcmin, was obtained by the S201 far-ultraviolet camera during the Apollo 16 mission. In a 10-minute exposure covering the 1250-1600 A wavelength range, 1034 star images are detectable, with a limiting ultraviolet magnitude of about 10. Most of these objects are identified with early-type stars listed in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog, the Catalog of Stellar Identifications, or both, but 203 objects remain unidentified or are identified with late-type stars. The photometric measurements appear to be in reasonable agreement with those of the International Ultraviolet Explorer for stars in common, and with expectations for A0 stars. A detailed photometric study was made of the Messier 8 region, and it is concluded that dust-scattered starlight contributes about half of the total radiation observed from the central region of M8.

Carruthers, G. R.↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of A Catalogue of Extragalactic Radio Source Identifications (Veron-Cetty and Veron 1983)

Detailed descriptions of the data and reference files of the updated and final version of the machine-readable catalog are given. The computerized catalog has greatly expanded since the original published version (1974), and additional information is given. A separate reference file contains bibliographical citations ordered simultaneously by numerical reference and alphabetically by author.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Perth 75: A Catalogue of Positions of 2589 FK4 and FK4S Stars (Nikoloff and Hog 1982)

Detailed descriptions of the data and format of the machine-readable astronomical catalog are given. The machine version is identical in data content to the published edition, but minor modifications in the data format were made in order to effect uniformity with machine versions of other astronomical catalogs. Stellar motions and positions at epoch and equinox 1950.0 are reported.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

The astrometry programme at Mt. John Observatory

The comet (and minor planet) astrometry program uses one of two 0.6 meter (24 in.) Cassegrain telescopes at Mt. John University Observatory. For astrometric photographs of comets and minor planets a simple guide probe camera is attached to the Cassegrain. Frequently the Cassegrain field does not include sufficient cataloged stars for a satisfactory reduction. In these cases the comet position is transferred to an astrograph plate. Ephemeris data are calculated to the tenth of a day nearest the meridian transit of the object or for dusk or dawn twilight for low objects. Star measurement and identification are checked by reducing positions of cataloged stars.

Gilmore, A. C.↗

Crustal dynamics project data analysis fixed station VLBI geodetic results

The Goddard VLBI group reports the results of analyzing the fixed observatory VLBI data available to the Crustal Dynamics Project through the end of 1984. All POLARIS/IRIS full-day data are included. The mobile site at Platteville, Colorado is also included since its occupation bears on the study of plate stability. Data from 1980 through 1984 were used to obtain the catalog of site and radio source positions labeled S284C. Using this catalog two types of one-day solutions were made: (1) to estimate site and baseline motions; and (2) to estimate Earth rotation parameters. A priori Earth rotation parameters were interpolated to the epoch of each observation from BIH Circular D.

Ryan, J. W.↗

An X-ray survey of clusters of galaxies. IV - A survey of southern clusters and a compilation of upper limits for both Abell and southern clusters

The results of the HEAO 1 A-1 X-ray survey of galaxy clusters are reported. X-ray error boxes and intensities are presented for all clusters in the Abell catalog and for the catalog of southern clusters and groups compiled by Duus and Newell (1977). A correlation is derived on the basis of the X-ray luminosity function for 2-6 keV which may be used to calculate the contribution of clusters to the diffuse X-ray background at different energies. The cluster X-ray is estimated to be 9.3 percent (+ 1.9 or - 1.5 percent). Correlations between X-ray luminosity and other cluster properties are exmained, and it is found that the distribution of upper limits may be applied to obtaining a more precise estimate of the average X-ray luminosity of clusters. The Abell richness class and southern cluster concentrations were strongly correlated with X-ray luminosity. Correlations between optical x-ray luminosity and optical radius velocity dispersion, spiral fraction, and radio power are analyzed. The evidence for all these correlations was considered to be weak because of poor scatter in the data.

Kowalski, M. P.↗

Predictions of occultations of stars and radio sources by Comet Halley

Cataloged cometary ephemerides were compared with cataloged star and radio source positions to generate a comprehensive list of expected occultations by Halley's Comet. The comet path was integrated according of Yeoman's orbit no. 12 and account was taken of gravitational and nongravitational perturbations. A coma of 22,500 km was assumed for star occultation and a 675,000 km radius was projected for radio occultations, the latter to allow for effects of an ion tail. The ephemerides were projected back along the comet track and produced a good fit with observed fixes.

Bowell, E.↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Henry Draper Catalogue (edition 1985)

An updated, corrected and extended machine-readable version of the catalog is described. Published and unpublished errors discovered in the previous version was corrected; letters indicating supplemental stars in the BD have been moved to a new byte to distinguish them from double-star components; and the machine readable portion of The Henry Draper Extension (HDE) (HA 100) was converted to the same format as the main catalog, with additional data added as necessary.

Roman, N. G.↗

Detection of a new X-ray burst source

Attention is given to the detection of a single X-ray burst from a new burst source, which is suggested to be either the bright bulge source GX13 + 1, or 1 N1812 - 182; these are respectively listed in the HEAO-1 Catalog of Wood (1984) as possessing equivalent strengths of about 165 and 29 UFU. Only the former of the two sources is listed in the 4 U Catalog, however, which gives it a maximum level of 400 UFU and a variability factor of 3.

Fleischmann, J. R.↗

The preparation and archiving of machine-readable astronomical data

The preparation of machine-readable astronomical catalogs for archiving and distribution from the ADC is described. Examples of specific format and data structure changes to improve compatibility with other computers, to homogenize the presentation of astronomical data among catalogs, and to increase storage efficiency are given. Various checks which are often made to insure internal consistency and for comparison with published versions are identified and the importance of permanently archiving astronomical data in the best possible condition is emphasized.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗