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The Astrometric Multiplexing Area Scanner - A New Technique for Measuring Stellar Positions and Magnitude

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Charles D. Smith

Leander McCormick Observatory, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

Abstract

Since the introduction of the photographic plate into astronomy over a century ago great improvements have been made in the accuracy of the results from measurements of the plates. With our developing technological and scientific skills came advances in manufacturing, exposing, and measuring photographic plates. However, it now seems that the rate of improvement has slowed and that future developments (barring presently unforseen breakthroughs) will only marginally improve the accuracy of results from photographic plates.