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Fields

Name Resolver

Query SIMBAD for the coordinates of a given target (object) name.

Search Box

The search box can be used to specify a range for RA and Dec. The given range is either applied to the coordinates retrieved from the SIMBAD database, or to the coordinates specified by the user in the fields Target RA and Target Dec. The search engine returns all Schmidt plates for which the plate centre is within the search box. A single Schmidt plate covers a sky region of 5 by 5 degrees.

Target RA

The right ascension of the target (in hours). It can be expressed both in decimal hours (e.g., 8.2) or in sexadecimal hours where hours minutes and seconds are blank or colon separated (e.g., 8 12 or 8:12). If NO (empty) Search Box is specified, be sure to specify a range (e.g., 12 00 .. 12 30, otherwise the system tries an exact match, which is unlikely to succeed.

Target Dec

The declination of the target. It can be expressed both in decimal degrees (e.g., -20.5) or in sexadecimal degrees where degrees arcminutes and arcseconds are blank or colon separated (e.g., -20 30 or -20:30). If NO (empty) Search Box is specified, be sure to specify a range, otherwise the system tries an exact match, which is unlikely to succeed.

Ra 1950

Right ascension of the plate centre with Equinox 1950.

Dec 1950

Declination of the plate centre with Equinox 1950.

Start Date

Local start date of the exposure.

LST

Local sidereal time of start of exposure in seconds since local midnight.

Epoch UTC

Epoch at start of exposure in UTC. This field is derived from Start Date and LST with the formula

     Epoch_UTC = Start_Date + LST + 16976

where the constant 16976 is the longitude of La Silla expressed in seconds.

Exposure Time

The exposure time in seconds.

Prefix

A one- or two- character code for the filter/emulsion combination.   The
two-letter codes can be interpreted as follows:
     first letter    filter     second letter   emulsion
          U           none            .            .
          B          GG 385           B            O
          J          GG 395           J            J
          Y          GG 455           .            .
          V          GG 495           V            D
          R          RG 630           R           red
          I          RG 715           I            N
          W          RG 830           .            .
          Z          RG1000           Z            Z

Certain standard filter/emulsion combinations are given one-letter codes
(column 2) as follows:
          U         any emulsion with UG 1   filter
          B          O     ..     ..  GG 385   ..
          J          J     ..     ..  GG 395   ..
          V          D     ..     ..  GG 495   ..
          R         red    ..     ..  RG 630   ..
          I          N     ..     ..  RG 715   ..
          Z          Z     ..     ..  RG1000   ..

Certain other filters are denoted by special codes, as follows:
          P                linear polarisation
          LP               left handed circular polarisation
          RP               right handed circular polarisation
          IF,HA,O2,O3,S2 etc    various interference filters

The code  X  covers everything not included above.

Suffix

P denotes an objective prism was fitted.

Plate Number

A running number for all ESO plates.

Field Number or Name

Field number is the ESO/SRC field number.

Survey

An entry in these columns means the plate was taken for one of the
following sky surveys:
          J  deep IIIa-J survey, declination -20 to -90
          I  deep IV-N survey (southern galactic plane, LMC, SMC)
         SR  short red survey (taken as comparison to I survey)
          R  deep IIIa-F survey, declination -20 to -90
         EJ  deep IIIa-J survey, declination   0 to -20
         ER  deep IIIa-F survey, declination   0 to -20
          P  objective prism survey
          Q  ESO Quick Blue Survey -20 to -90

None Survey

USER identification no. An asterisk (*) indicates that the plate is with the user and has not yet been returned to the ESO Plate Vault.

Emulsion/Filter

Extended details of emulsion and filter.

Prism Code

First column represents prism dispersion                               
          5  ESO 4 degree prism      ( 450 A/mm at H gamma)
Second column represents prism orientation                             
          N,E,S,W   position of prism apex                             
Third column                                                           
          W  indicates spectra are widened                             

Quality Control Plate Grade

ESO plate grades, cf. ESO/Uppsala Survey (Lauberts,1982), p.494.
     First digit: seeing (1 - 5)
     Second digit: Notes (1 - 9)
             1: Clouds
             2: Wind
             3: Cirrus
             4: Humidity
             5: Wind and Clouds
             6: Image motion in Guider
             7: (not used)
             8: (No grid on plate)
             9: (QBS plate not used in ESO/Uppsala Survey)

          I  denotes image sizes greater than 40 microns
          T  denotes image elongation
          U  denotes underexposure (relative to exposure time)
          E  denotes an emulsion blemish
          P  denotes processing marks
          F  denotes overexposure or high chemical fog
          S  denotes blemishes due to static discharge
          H  denotes haze haloes
          X  denotes other defects