Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Mon, 12/20/2021 - 23:44
At the AAVSO meeting some 10 SDSS plates were auctioned off. Who could resist!
I'm now in possession of plate labeled: 11235 A
Anyone know how to find the ra/dec this was pointed at?
TIA
George
Hi George,
Plate centers are at
http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr17/en/tools/getimg/plate.aspx
You can't plate-solve the SDSS plates, because they only contain a small fraction of all of the possible targets for a particular field of view. Most of the fibers were used for galaxies, with a smaller percentage measuring specific types of stars (like CVs).
Arne
Thanks for the note on plate solving. I was trying to figure out how to transfer the hole pattern to an image I could send to nova.astrometry.net!
The number 11235 doesn't seem to match up with the schema shown on the SDSS website. That is plate/MJD and the plate series doesn't appear to go past 10,000. Maybe it was a test plate?
George
Hi George,
It could be that the plate was from one of the later surveys using the telescope. I guess you could always email the SDSS team and ask!
One obvious way to get an image for plate solving is to put a lamp behind the plate and take an image (such as with a DSLR).
A fond memory was visiting SDSS, since USNO was a partner. They were loading lots of plates for the upcoming nights; perhaps one of those plates was yours!
Arne
Admittedly off…
George,
Admittedly off topic, but of you enjoy obscure things like this perhaps you'd like to purchase my set of Palomar POSS images?? Be warned in advance that in their drawers they take up a lot of space!! :>) :>)
Peter