天文底片保存和我国天文底片数字化的建议

阐述了国际上天文照相底片数字化工作的进展:底片的保存、底片数字化的意义和相关技术。扼要地介绍了国际虚拟天文台的情况及其与底片数字化的关系。分析了我国天文底片资料的保存现状,并提出了底片数字化建议:成立由各天文台专家组成的全国底片数字化协调小组,建立各单位保存底片的信息库、改进底片的保存条件、有步骤地对有价值底片上的全部目标进行扫描,以便将其与现代高精度的观测资料相结合,开展有意义的课题研究。

Review on IAU Work for Preservation Astronomical Photographic Plates and Suggestions of Plates Digitization in China

The progress on digitization of astronomical photographic plates, including plate preservation, the significance of digitizing plates and technique of plate digitization is described. The international Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) and the Spectroscopic Virtual Observatory (SVO) as well as the relationship between plate digitization and VO are briefly introduced.Based on the investigation there are 30 000 archive plates including spectrogram, which were taken with 60/90 cm Schmidt telescope at National Astronomical Observatories and 60 cm reflector at Purple Mountain Observatory. Most of these plates were photographed in 1970-1980. Now the work of plate digitization is not developed and plate preservation is not satisfactory expect those kept at plate archive room of Qing Dao Observatory. 5 suggestions about preservation and digitization of Chinese photographic plates are presented as follows: 1) The project of plate digitization in China will be included in the Virtual Observatory at National Astronomical Observatory. 2) The cooperative group will be organized and established. The members of this group coming from each observatory are responsible for this work. This "plate digitization" group is a subgroup of Virtual Observatory. 3) Under the leadership of cooperative group 5 items will be done as soon as possible. 4) Plate digitization is a common task for astronomy in China, which will be supported by Astronomy Division. Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Nature Sciences Foundation. The cooperative group will arrange the finance. Finally we recognize that the historic astronomical plates are common wealth for Chinese astronomers. Through the project of plate digitization will be rescued and become an important part of database in China-VO as well as the current astronomical research will be supported with using these information.