Star Image Identification and Characterization on Astrographic Plates

The automatic identification and characterization of star images has great value for the preliminary analysis and measurement of astrographic plates. Our group at Valencia Observatory is using a small 2-D stage and a CCD camera under computer control to perform systematic measurements of bright asteroid plates. We are also applying this method to the processing of astrographic plates with crowded stellar fields and non-stellar objects in collaboration with the Pulkovo Observatory.