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Wide-field Astronomy with Tech Pan Film - A Positive Outlook for Schmidt Photography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Quentin A Parker ,
Steven Phillipps  and
David Morgan
Quentin A Parker
Affiliation:
Anglo-Australian Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW 2357, Australia
Steven Phillipps
Affiliation:
University of Wales, College of Cardiff, Wales, UK
David Morgan
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Abstract

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The introduction of film-based Kodak Technical Pan emulsion at the UKST has led to a new lease of life for deep, wide-field astrophotography. This is because the excellent imaging, resolution and low noise characteristics of Tech Pan typically yield a one magnitude depth gain over equivalent IIIa-F plates. Many new projects are underway to take advantage of the significant information gains. The cheap cost of film and ease of transportation gives direct economic benefits too. Tech Pan could also offer a medium term, competitive alternative to CCD mosaics for providing new, deep, wide-field surveys via stacking of several digitised exposures of the same field. A one magnitude gain could result from the stacking of just 6 Tech Pan films to yield an R ∼ 23.5–24. Even without digital co-addition the largest current CCDs cannot hope to match Tech Pan’s inherent ∼ 3 µm resolution and the 40 square degree area coverage of the UKST.

Type
IV. Other Technical Developments
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 148: The Future Utilisation of Schmidt Telescopes , 1995 , pp. 96 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1995

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