A method optimized for the access from a large catalogue of stars lying in a given cap of the celestial sphere is described. The performances of the method applied to the SAO catalogue are presented.

Rigorous formulations closely following current practice, are proposed for the absolute and the relative estimation of certain target quantities. A system of standards is defined as a set of estimates that has certain properties. This is followed by a discussion of the meaning of “reducing estimates to a specified system“ and certain procedures are suggested for making this process less ambiguous. It is finally shown that relative estimates can be employed for replacing a system which is based on absolute measurements alone by another, more accurate system.

During the last decenny, Digital Image Processing (D.I.P.) has been introduced in astronomical studies to allow the information extraction.

In a first step, D.I.P. has been used essentially to provide enhanced images (noise reduction, deconvolution, contrast enhancement), to reduce geometrical or photometrical distorsions and to extract rough data. So, a few reference date are needed (some comparison lines for example).

The increasing request for astronomical data processing facilities forces the definition of standards for astronomical application software. Separating the application module from the interfaces to the data processing system allows to identify the standard user interaction interface, the standard data storage interface, the standard dedicated subsystems interface and the standard on-line documentation interface. We tested a tentative integrated solution that fulfills these requirements. This solution includes colour graphics and is available to the astronomical community.

The data base of IUE spectra available for dissemination to the scientific community presently contains approximately 22,000 separate images. Due to storage space and computer processing time limitations, it was decided to store the data on high density (6250 bpi) specially formatted tapes and to retrieve and reconvert them to the originally supplied format upon request. The archival/retrieval system for the data and an automatic data entry system for creation and maintenance of an indexing data base are described. Suggestions are made for the use of standard formats for future image data storage, retrieval and dissemination.

In many application fields a need for more effective data processing has been identified. There are various means to achieve this goal: 1) new technological developments; 2) new information management and organizational techniques; 3)new methods and tools for systems development; 4) greater awareness of economic, legal, and social aspects of data processing. An attempt is being made to integrate these means into the “optimal solution” of effectiveness problem. The approach taken is to develop flexible software models in order to test for applicability in the real-world environment. Major characteristics of such software models are: 1) portability; 2) modifiability; 3) functionality; 4) operationality.

For certain space vehicles there is a need to accurately determine vehicle attitude. Some of these spacecraft, such as NASA’s planned LANDSAT-D and Gamma Ray Explorer, will use observations from star sensors to determine fine attitude. One input to the attitude determination software is a specialized stellar data base. The initial step in this software is to identify and match the star images with catalogue stars. The Naval Surface Weapons Center (NSWC) has compiled a special star catalogue for such applications. This paper describes the criteria for the NSWC catalogue and how it is utilized. Because of the large number of stars available, a subset can be divided into cells defined by mission criteria. The cells are stored as a random access mass storage file, thus allowing quick access to the information. This greatly reduces execution time for the software. One scheme for accessing stars from mass storage is described.

The Faint Object Camera is the ESA instrument to be flown in the Space Telescope. A modern facility is being established to provide the software required to analyse the FOC data. This paper describes the basic hardware and software characteristics of the ESA facility.

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.

“SPORA” is an abbreviation for “Software Package Oriented to Research in Astronomy” (in Russian – “Specializirowannoie Programmnoie Obespechniie Rabot po Astronomii”).

The system is designed for the wide range for users who are not inclined to call themselves computer programmers. We assume that most of them only wish to state their problems as simply as possible – just to say which information they have and what they want to get. On the other hand some of these users have rich programming experience and they are fond of using sophisticated languages, like PL/1 or ALGOL 68, and writing complicated programs.

Evidence is presented on the feasibility of an automated generation of classification schemes and the subsequent indexing of papers with the automatically generated subject headings. The output generated for Astronomy and Astrophysics compares favorably with the schemes used by the services and is not inconsistent with recently proposed classifications. Implementation of the automatic techniques seems not only feasible but desirable. However, it would require that the services include for each paper in their database its citations to other papers.

The astronomical bibliography ‘Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts’ (AAA) is the direct successor of the well-known ‘Astronomischer Jahresbericht’ (AJB). AAA is now going into its 13th year of existence. It is the aim of this contribution to outline the present status and the future plans of the abstracting and indexing work at the Rechen-Institut.

Considers a typical paper from the astronomical literature, shows how it was processed for ‘Physics Abstracts’ and illustrates how it can now be retrieved on-line from the INSPEC database.

“Two-color photoelectric observations of the eclipsing binary BB Peg” by Cerruti-Sola and Scaltriti was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 85–9 (April 1980). The abstract for this paper appeared as No. 62194 in Physics Abstracts, Vol. 83, No. 1139, p. 4806 (1 July 1980). This particular journal article has been chosen to illustrate the way material is handled by the INSPEC database because apart from the usual bibliographic elements, a designated stellar object (BB Pegasi) is mentioned and numerical data (observation dates) are incorporated.

On-line retrieving systems of BSI in Japan is briefly described. The BSI reference file was adapted to be retrieved by some keywords other than star names. Then the retrieval system of BSI was constructed on a general retrieval language CIR. Some efforts to make the system efficient and to save the disk space are discussed.

The Bibliographical Star Index (B.S.I.) ries to solve the problem of retrieving the observations or any kind of notes about a star. This file was initiated by Prof. R. Cayrel in 1964 and is going on through a collaboration between Paris-Meudon Observatories and the Stellar Data Center (see Ochsenbein and Spite, 1977). In pratice, the astrophysical papers published on stars are read, the names of all the stars cited in each paper are recorded; simultaneously, the complete bibliographical reference is recorded : name of the author(s), journal, volume, page, year of publication and the full title. These data are keypunched and stored in the computer, each star name is then tested, frequently replaced by a more used designation, and entered into the B.S.I. The retrieval program than lists all the papers with authors, references and full title in which a given star is cited.

It is considered that the term “copyright” originated in Anglo-Saxon law at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Originally, it meant a “right to make a copy” of a work. This was because at that time copying (mainly by printing presses) was almost the only mode of reproduction.

A short summary of the way the main astronomy journals are produced is given. The different ways of publishing a scientific journal are described, their advantages anddrawbacks-are discussed and some projections towards the future are made. We finally deal with a few specific editorial topics : publication of large collections of data, designation of astronomical objects, indexing and retrieval of information.

This paper reflects my opinions concerning what a journal like Astronomy and Astrophysics is presently doing, could reasonably do and will possibly do in the future in order to publish the material submitted by the astronomical community. I have had contacts with Prof. B.J. Tayler, the Managing Editor of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, and some of his opinions are conveyed here.

Authors, editors and data centres should ensure that data on astronomical objects and systems can be readily located and that their accuracy can be properly judged by the user. In particular, authors and editors should endeavour to ensure that the title, abstract and other retrieval aids are accurate and informative and that the procedures used are described in sufficient detail to allow a proper evaluation of the results. Data centres should, where appropriate, provide additional aids to allow the users to find data efficiently and should, in all cases, ensure that each datafile contains adequate information about the sources of the data and about the significance of the fields in the records of the file.

Some rules about star designation have been edicted by Commission 5 of the IAU : they are briefly recalled and discussed. The essential rule, to be kept in mind by every author, is : when quoting a designation of a star, always quote the complete bibliographic reference of the paper defining this star designation. “Standard” designations can be an exception to this rule : it is proposed to publish in the CDS Bulletin a list of designations considered as “standard”; the authors would be relieved of the obligation of quoting the references of these “standard” catalogues and could concentrate on the task of referencing the other catalogues.