The Italian Observatories Plate digitization

Transcription

1 The Italian Observatories Plate digitization R. Nesci University La Sapienza Roma, Italy On behalf of a large number of people Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 1

2 Plate Digitization National Project In the year 2002, a National Project of digitization of the plates of the italian astronomical Observatories was made The Project, leaded by Cesare Barbieri of the Padova University, involved some Univeristies and Astronomical Observatories, namely: Catania (University and Observatory) Padova-Asiago (University and Observatory) Rome (University La Sapienza) Rome Astronomical Observatory Torino Observatory Vatican Observatory Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 2

3 Project duration The Project was founded only for two years ( ), so only a limited amount of results could be achieved: The full feasibility of the scientific use of commercial scanners was proved A check of the status of the plates was performed Log-books in electronic form were realized Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 3

4 Asiago-Padova staff Cesare Barbieri Francesca Rampazzi Alberico Rigoni Alfredo Segafredo Ruggero Stagni Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 4

5 Padova results (1) The Asiago-Padova Observatory made the major efforts, namely: The electronic log-books were made for all the telescopes and instruments used A dedicated software, SCANFITS, was realized by Stefano Mottola running under WINDOWS XP, for TWAIN-compatible commercial scanners, allowing to manually set the scanning parameters and save the image in 16-bit FITS format; Extensive trials with different scanners were made for astrometric and photometric accuracy; Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 5

6 Padova results (2) A large number (about 20,000) of plates were actually scanned and saved in FITS format on DVDs; A NAS unity was set-up to keep all the data available locally online; A dedicated web page was put in operation for cone-search of available plates A number of scientific papers have already been published making use of the digitized Asiago plates. Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 6

7 Asiago archive web page Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 7

8 Asiago archive 65/90 Schmidt direct (16729) 65/90 Schmidt objective prism (1087) 40/50 Schmidt direct (18411) 40/50 Schmidt objective prism (2006) 122 Newton direct (9720) 122 Newton spectra (21804) 183 Cassegrain direct (3870) 183 Cassegrain spectra (4301) Log-books are available as Excel files Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 8

9 Asiago query Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 9

10 Catania staff Carlo Blanco Ettore Marilli Vincenzo Greco Piero Massimino Angela Mangano Massimo Cigna Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 10

11 Catania archive Strumento e sito Periodo Progetto, N lastre e dimensioni lastre Astrografo equatoriale 33 cm (Piazza Vaccarini) Astrografo equatoriale 33 cm (Piazza Vaccarini) Catalogo Astrofotografico + Carte du Ciel 500 lastre (16x16 cm) 1910 Cometa di Halley 32 lastre (16x16 cm) Astrografo equatoriale 33 cm (Piazza Vaccarini) Campi della zona astrografica di Catania 211 lastre (16x16 cm) Telescopio Schmidt 61/41 (Mt. Etna) lastre (9x9 cm) Obiettivo fotografico 33 cm (Mt. Etna) lastre (16x16 cm) Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 11

12 Catania results Status of the plates was checked and many were recovered from very poor conditions An electronic log book was made A dedicated software, ASTROPLATES, running under WindowsXP and IDL was developed. The program allows: scan the plate, selecting manually the best scanning parameters for any TWAIN-compliant commercial scanner; Save the image in 16-bit FITS format; Build a database of the scanned plates; Check the PSF of the stars and set a quality flag Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 12

13 Catania ASTROPLATES main window Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 13

14 Lastre 61cm Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 14

15 Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 15

16 Torino team Beatrice Bucciarelli Gabriella Bernardi Luciano Lanteri Giuseppe Massone Roberto Morbidelli Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 16

17 Torino archive Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 17

18 Torino results Thorough inventory of plates and observing logs (about 3100 plates classified as of today) Proper archive of photographic material in a dedicated room Put logbooks in electronic form (ACCESS database) Low-resolution (600dpi) scan of plates for quick-look purposes Work supported by the Piedmont region fundings for photographic and archival sources Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 18

19 Rome Observatory team Regina Coluzzi Andrea Di Paola Francesco Pedichini Gianluca Li Causi Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 19

20 Plate archive at OATo Archive Room Measuring machine TO.CA.M.M.

21 Roma Observatory work Telescope Schmidt 60/90, direct and objective-prism Thorough inventory of plates and observing logs (about 1100 plates classified) Put logbook in electronic form (Excel database) Trials of scanning of objective-prism plates and automatic spectral classification Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 21

22 La Sapienza team Roberto Nesci Corinne Rossi Silvia Gaudenzi Silvia Sclavi Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 22

23 La Sapienza results Tests of TWAIN scanners behaviour as a function of the scan parameters Definition of the scanning parameters and procedure of the astrometric calibration for objective prism plates of the First Byurakan Survey (Markarian Survey) Realization of Digitized First Byurakan Survey in collaboration with the Byurakan Observatory and Cornell University The DFBS is freely available on line since 2007 at Hosted at the Department of Physics Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 23

24 DFBS home page Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 24

25 Web page DFBS - explore Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 25

26 Web page DFBS - Explore 2 Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 26

27 Web page DFBS - sky coverage Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 27

28 Web page DFBS -getspectra Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 28

29 What next? What is needed to complete the work? Manpower: 2 men/year for each Institution Hardware: 2 dedicated machines for each Institution (one running and one as backup) for storage and distribution Software: conversion to VO standards and mantainence of the archives Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 29

30 Strategy for the future? Centralize or distribute? The US are trying to collect all the plate archives form Astronomical Observatories at the PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, in North Carolina USA) Shall European Observatories follow a similar concentration track? will it be really cost-effective? will it really be scientifically more efficient? Which interaction with the Euro-VO? Nov. 20, 2009 Potsdam, AIP, R. Nesci 30