Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA)

Photographic plates were the primary data recording medium for generations of astronomers, spanning over 130 years. The data is precious, and we cannot go back in time to image the sky as it appeared to generations of astronomers. A danger exists today for the safety of these plates, estimated at over 2 million. Observatories and universities are space limited and some seek a safe home for the legacy left by so many astronomers.

PARI provides space, infrastructure, and Internet access. The goal is to make the archive a resource harnessed by present and future generations of astronomers.  We look forward to serving the astronomical community as a vital archival resource for future research projects. Learn more about APDA.

A citizen scientist project called STELLAR CLASSIFICATION ONLINE - PUBLIC EXPLORATION (SCOPE) allows the public access to at least a million star images on scanned photographic plates.  The photographic plates are those in the collections in APDA.  Anyone in the world can inspect the star images and classify the stars according to their temperatures and luminosities.  Click on SCOPE to learn more and begin your journey into our stellar neighborhood!

Click here to view the article about APDA and Time Domain Astronomy appearing in Mercury Magazine, Winter 2009 Vol 38, No. 1, pages 24-28.

Click here to view an article about APDA appearing in Science Magazine, 24 April 2009, Vol. 324, pages 460-461.

Books and Journals in the PARI Library

Visiting researchers and students, as well as permanent PARI staff, have access to a large collection of astronomical, physical, and mathematical books and principal journals in astronomy and related sciences.

Through purchase and donations, PARI has been steadily building a collection of journals, textbooks and treatises, and reference works in the physical sciences, mathematics, computer science and engineering. The collection still has many needs, so acquisition will be a continuing effort.

The collection is being consolidated into an library area adjacent to the media center in Building 1. The area is also convenient to professional staff offices and the main antenna control room. Work is already in progress; when complete, the library will have a digital catalog, Internet access, patron reading and desk furniture, shelving for 20,000 volumes and a separate workroom for a librarian.

Books and journals have been donated by a wide variety of people and libraries. Holdings include:

• The Astronomical Journal (complete from volume 1)
• The Astrophysical Journal (complete from volume 1)
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Publicatons of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
• Monthly Notices of the RAS
• Nature
• Science
• Journal of Geophysical Research