M' Castelaz1, D' Cline1, E' Griffin2, W' Osborn3

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M' Castelaz1, D' Cline1, E' Griffin2, W' Osborn3

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digitize selections of those collections (Phase 2) ... Collections will be maintained in the original storage cabinets. ... Digitize selected collections or sub-sets. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: M' Castelaz1, D' Cline1, E' Griffin2, W' Osborn3

1
Preserving America's Astronomical Photographic
Heritage - Phase 1
M. Castelaz1, D. Cline1, E. Griffin2, W.
Osborn3 1PARI 2Dominion Astrophysical
Observatory 3Central Michigan University
Not-for-profit public foundation
Session 91.01 Wednesday, January 12, 2005. AAS
205th Meeting
www.pari.edu
Storage
Introduction

Storage Environment for photographic plates will
have fairly constant temperature and humidity.
Storage Space at PARI is already equipped with an
adequate air-conditioning system and a solid
foundation for firm, long-term storage.
Storage Enclosures. Plate envelopes that are
damaged or corrosive will be replaced by acid-
and lignin-free ones. In those cases, original
envelopes will be kept separated from the plates.
Storage Systems. Collections will be maintained
in the original storage cabinets. Collections
without adequate cabinets will be stored on steel
shelving.
Plate cleaning. Emulsion sides will not be
touched, identification marks will be preserved.
Plate Copies. Plates deemed to be severely at
risk such as
broken plates
plates with emulsion peel
plates with fungal growth
will be copied photographically as soon as
feasible.

Our shared heritage of some 3 million
photographic observations is seriously in
jeopardy, and astronomy may well lose vital,
unrepeatable data dating back over a century.
A call for preservation of astronomical plates
has been made by the international astronomical
community.
This project is in response, and aims to
establish a national archive for astronomical
plates at the Pisgah Astronomical Research
Institute (PARI) that will
Ensure the preservation of North Americas
astronomical photographic heritage (Phase 1) and
digitize selections of those collections (Phase
2)
We describe details of the storage, cleaning and
cataloging procedures that have been planned for
Phase 1, and provide an overview of what is
anticipated for Phase 2.

KPNO 4-m Plate
Basic Steps

Prepare the storage areas.
Appraise all U.S. collections.
Test methods for handling, cleaning, preserving
and re-storing damaged plates.
Develop on-line database and finding aid
including log-book and card index sorting.
Adopt IAU cataloging and meta-data standards
where they exist.
Furnish a laboratory for plate examination and
measurement.

Phase 2 and Beyond

Select appropriate digitizing methods and
equipment.
Digitize selected collections or sub-sets.
Continue plate storage and preservation so that
every USA collection has a guaranteed safe future
either at home or PARI.
Establish the PARI preservation and digitizing
scheme for astronomy world-wide.

PARI Located in Western North Carolina 200
acres Former NASA Tracking Station
Phase 1