1. StarGazer - star field visualization system and its integration to WFPDB Rumen G.Bogdanovski SSADC, Bulgaria e-mail: rumen@skyarchive.org

2. What is StarGazer? What is StarGazer? Astronomical software system for star field visualization based on stellar and deep-sky objects catalogues Astronomical software system for star field visualization based on stellar and deep-sky objects catalogues Web-based client-server architecture Web-based client-server architecture Written in Perl, powered by PostgreSQL as a search engine Written in Perl, powered by PostgreSQL as a search engine Available online at http://www.astro.bas.bg/stargazer http://www.skyarchive.org/stargazer Available online at http://www.astro.bas.bg/stargazer http://www.skyarchive.org/stargazer http://www.astro.bas.bg/stargazer http://www.skyarchive.org/stargazer http://www.astro.bas.bg/stargazer http://www.skyarchive.org/stargazer

3. StarGazer Architecture

4. Features Star field visualization in Adobe PostScript and PDF formats Star field visualization in Adobe PostScript and PDF formats Capability of using all available stellar and deep-sky objects catalogues Capability of using all available stellar and deep-sky objects catalogues Extremely fast cross-reference and search in the catalogues provided by PostgreSQL Extremely fast cross-reference and search in the catalogues provided by PostgreSQL Platform independence (compatible with all operating systems) Platform independence (compatible with all operating systems) Two types of user interface: web-based and command line Two types of user interface: web-based and command line Database of over 60,000,000 objects Database of over 60,000,000 objects Catalogues currently used: YBS, SAO, Tycho, GSC-ACT, USNO A2(up to 16.3m), Messier, IC, NGC and some cross- reference data Catalogues currently used: YBS, SAO, Tycho, GSC-ACT, USNO A2(up to 16.3m), Messier, IC, NGC and some cross- reference data

5. Object Search Interface

6. StarGazer User Interface

7. StarGazer Output in gv

8. Example Star Charts

9. Integration with WFPDB Visualization of a selected star field Visualization of a selected star field Visualization of wide field plates not yet digitalized Visualization of wide field plates not yet digitalized Visual identification of the stars on a selected plate Visual identification of the stars on a selected plate Automatic identification of the stars on the digitalized plates (currently under development) Automatic identification of the stars on the digitalized plates (currently under development)

10. Example: Pleiades cluster

11. Plans for development Better integration with WFPDB Better integration with WFPDB Extending StarGazer’s database with more catalogues Extending StarGazer’s database with more catalogues Calculation and visualization of ephemerides of Solar system objects Calculation and visualization of ephemerides of Solar system objects Integration with AVO Integration with AVO

12. Conclusion Used by professional and amateur astronomers Used by professional and amateur astronomers Flexible and extensible design Flexible and extensible design Wide interest Wide interest Promising future Promising future

13. That is all folks!