HMXB and SFXT Charts for AAVSO Observers

This is not an official AAVSO page.

The original HMXB observing project is described in our JAAVSO article: you can read the e-JAAVSO version or the astro-ph version . The "LPH" numbers are defined in the JAAVSO article, they refer to the old HMXB catalog by Liu, van Paradijs and van den Heuvel. The latest HMXB catalogs split the Magellanic Cloud HMXBs from those in the Milky Way.

In 2011, the HMXB observing program has been extended to include the challenging Super Fast X-ray Transients (SFXTs), a new type of HMXB identified in INTEGRAL data. The SFXT project is also described in a JAAVSO article: see the eJAAVSO posting.

The charts posted here are for reference - they name comparison stars with a consistent set of letters that observers can report, they also recommend which comparison stars to use. The charts typically consist of two pages, meant to be printed double-sided. That way the front is the most useful side with information on the back being useful in case there are problems with the sequence printed on the front. Since this HMXB/SFXT project began, the AAVSO VSP chart plotter has come on-line. The VSP uses the latest available data for comparison stars, so it is recommended that comparison star magnitudes from the VSP be used where they differ from the charts posted here. I will post charts generated with the VSP as people like Keith Graham and Tim Crawford do their fantastic work on defining comparison star sequences in the HMXB fields. The SFXT charts posted here were made using the VSP and are posted here as a convenient reference.

Notes on data submission

Some charts have comparison star magnitudes based on my all-sky photometry with the ANU 24 and 40 inch telescopes. Some of that photometry is rough due to limited observing time and non-ideal observing conditions. Use the given comparison star magnitudes anyway, just don't use ensemble photometry. As the APASS project covers more of the southern sky, better comparison star photometry will become available in the VSP.

Please submit your data directly to the AAVSO. Please note the chart revision date and comparison star used when submitting data.

The Charts

(SMC = Small Magellanic Cloud, LMC = Large Magellanic Cloud. The listed "finding chart papers" generally have images of the HMXB optical counterparts that unambigously identify the stars; they are links taken from the LPH catalogs. Thanks to Keith Graham for sorting out APASS comp star data in the HMXB fields in the AAVSO VSP database, sorting out AAVSO AUIDs and generally working to make useable charts for the HMXBs in the VSP. The latest VSP charts can be searched on the AAVSO VSP using the LPHXXX numbers.)

Star Chart and Notes
LPH001 In SMC. RA: 00:32:56.100, Dec: -73:48:19.00. RX J0032.9-7348. V = 15.3. Original finding chart paper.
LPH004 AUID 000-BJP-525; SMC X-3. Orbital period now known to be 44.86 days. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH008 In SMC. RA: 00:51:52.29, Dec: -73:10:33.4. RX J0051.9-7311. V = 14.4. Original finding chart paper.
LPH009 In SMC. RA: 00:52:13.90, Dec: -73:19:13.0. RX J0052.1-7319, SMC SC6 99923. V = 14.667. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2.
LPH010 In SMC. RA: 00:52:59.20, Dec: -71:57:58.0. RX J0052.9-7158. V = 15.46. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2. Orbital period is now listed as 200 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH011 In SMC. RA: 00:54:36.20, Dec: -73:40:35.0. H 0053-739. V = 16.0. Original finding chart paper.
LPH012 AUID 000-BCY-660; old AAVSO designation 0050+60. gamma Cas - this star has been on the AAVSO photoelectric program for many years. You can use its AAVSO chart. Its orbital period is now known at 203.59 days.
LPH017 In SMC. RA: 00:58:11.70, Dec: -72:30:50.0. RX J0058.2-7231. V = 14.9. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2. Orbital period is now listed as 59.72 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH018 In SMC. RA: 00:59:11.30, Dec: -71:38:45.0. RX J0059.2-7138. V = 14.1. Original finding chart paper.
LPH020 In SMC. RA: 01:03:13.90, Dec: -72:09:14.0. RX J0103-722. V = 14.8. Original finding chart paper.
LPH021 In SMC. RA: 01:09:15.00, Dec: -74:44:40.0. 1H0103-762. V = 17.0.
LPH023 In SMC. RA: 01:06:15.10, Dec: -72:05:25.0. RX J0106.2-7205. V = 16.7. Original finding chart paper.
LPH024 In SMC. RA: 01:11:08.40, Dec: -73:16:46.0. XTE J0111.2-7317. V = 15.32. Original finding chart paper.
LPH028 In SMC. RA: 01:17:41.40, Dec: -73:30:49.0. RX J0117.6-7330. V = 14.19.
LPH029 AUID 000-BCY-758; old AAVSO Harvard designation 0140+60B; AAVSO name V831 Cas. Other names: LS I+61^o235, RX J0146.9+6121. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH033 AUID 000-BBG-820; AAVSO designation 0411+55. CI Cam - this star has been on the AAVSO program for many years. You can use its AAVSO chart. Its orbital period is now known at 19.41 days.
LPH034 AUID 000-BCZ-082; old AAVSO designation 0434+41. Other names: BSD 24-491, RX J0440.9+4431. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH035 In LMC. RA: 05:01:23.90, Dec: -70:33:33.0. RX J0501.6-7034. V = 14.5. Original finding chart paper.
LPH036 In LMC. RA: 05:02:51.60, Dec: -66:26:25.0. RX J0502.9-6626. V = 14.22. Original finding chart paper.
LPH038 In LMC. RA: 05:16:00.10, Dec: -69:16:09.0. RX J0516.0-6916. V = 15.0. Original finding chart paper.
LPH039 In LMC. RA: 05:20:30.30, Dec: -69:32:04.0. RX J0520.5-6932. V = 14.4. Original finding chart paper. Orbital period is now listed as 24.4 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH040 AUID 000-BCT-897; old AAVSO designation 0515+37. Other names: V420 Aur, 0521+373, HD 34921, EXO 051910+3737.7. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH046 AUID 000-BJP-526; RX J0532.5-6551. In LMC. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH053 AUID 000-BJP-527; RX J0541.4-6936. In LMC. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH054 In LMC. RA: 05:41:37.10, Dec: -68:32:32.0. RX J0541.5-6833, LMC BI267. V = 14.02. Original finding chart paper.
LPH055 In LMC. RA: 05:44:15.60, Dec: -66:34:59.0. H 0544-665. V = 15.4. Original finding chart paper.
LPH056 In LMC. RA: 05:44:06.30, Dec: -71:00:50.0. 1SAX J0544.1-7100. V = 15.33. Original finding chart paper. Orbital period is now listed as 286 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH057 AUID 000-BCZ-340; old AAVSO designation 0549+28B. Other names: HD 249179, 1H 0556+286. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH058 AUID 000-BCZ-435; old AAVSO designation 0630+05B. Other names: SAX J0635+0533. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH061 RA: 07:47:23.60, Dec: -53:19:57.0. 1H 0739-529, HD63666. V = 7.62.
LPH062 RA: 07:50:15.77, Dec: -61:05:58.2. 1H 0749-600, HD65663. V = 6.73.
LPH067 AUID 000-BJP-528. Southern object, 1024.0-5732 = Wack 2134 = GSC 08608-00157. May not be HMXB, may be WR + O star. Not listed in Liu, QZ, van Paradijs J, van den Heuvel EPJ, A&A, 455:1165-1168 (2006). (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH069 AUID 000-BCZ-878. Southern HMXB. RX J1037.5-5647 = LS 1698. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-12-03]. VSP version.
LPH071 AUID 000-BJP-401; NSV 18753; 1A 1118-615. Southern HMXB. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-06]. VSP version.
LPH079 RA: 12:42:50.30, Dec: -63:03:31.0. 1H 1249-637, HD110432. V = 5.31.
LPH080 RA: 12:39:14.60. Dec: -75:22:14.0. 1H 1253-761, HD109857. V = 6.49.
LPH081 RA: 12:54:36.90, Dec: -57:10:07.0. 1H 1255-567, mu2 Cru. V = 5.17.
LPH088 AUID 000-BJP-529. Southern HMXB. 1H 1555-552 = SAO 243098 = HD 141926. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-12-04]. VSP version (has no APASS photometry yet).
LPH095 AUID 000-BCX-089. Southern HMXB. RX J1744.7-2713 = HD 161103 = V3892 SGR = old AAVSO 1738-27 = SAO 185681. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH100 AUID 000-BDB-845; old AAVSO designation 1820-14. Other names: LS 5039, RX J1826.2-1450, V479 Sct. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH107 AUID 000-BJP-573. Southern HMXB. AX 1845.0-0433. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH115 AUID 000-BDC-070; old AAVSO Harvard designation 1930+53. Other names: 1H 1936+541, DM+53^o2262. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH117 RA: 19:49:30.50, Dec: +30:12:24.0. KS 1947+300. V = 14.24. Orbital period listed as 14.4d in the Milky Way LPH catalog.
LPH123 AUID 000-BDC-306; old AAVSO designation 2027+47. Other names: RX J2030.5+4751, SAO 49725. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH127 AUID 000-BFS-469; old AAVSO designation 2157+49. Other names: 1H 2202+501, SAO 51568, V2175 Cyg. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH128 AUID 000-BDC-531; old AAVSO Harvard designation 2204+54; AAVSO name 2206+543. Other names: 4U 2206+543, TYC 3973-812-1, GSC 3973-0812. Latest revision: [2010-01-18]. VSP version.
LPH129 AUID 000-BDC-567; old AAVSO designation 2223+60. Other names: V669 Cep, 2214+589, GG3 71, IRAS 22248+6058. May not be an HMXB - low priority object. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.

Star	Chart and Notes
LPH001	In SMC. RA: 00:32:56.100, Dec: -73:48:19.00. RX J0032.9-7348. V = 15.3. Original finding chart paper.
LPH004	AUID 000-BJP-525; SMC X-3. Orbital period now known to be 44.86 days. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH008	In SMC. RA: 00:51:52.29, Dec: -73:10:33.4. RX J0051.9-7311. V = 14.4. Original finding chart paper.
LPH009	In SMC. RA: 00:52:13.90, Dec: -73:19:13.0. RX J0052.1-7319, SMC SC6 99923. V = 14.667. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2.
LPH010	In SMC. RA: 00:52:59.20, Dec: -71:57:58.0. RX J0052.9-7158. V = 15.46. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2. Orbital period is now listed as 200 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH011	In SMC. RA: 00:54:36.20, Dec: -73:40:35.0. H 0053-739. V = 16.0. Original finding chart paper.
LPH012	AUID 000-BCY-660; old AAVSO designation 0050+60. gamma Cas - this star has been on the AAVSO photoelectric program for many years. You can use its AAVSO chart. Its orbital period is now known at 203.59 days.
LPH017	In SMC. RA: 00:58:11.70, Dec: -72:30:50.0. RX J0058.2-7231. V = 14.9. Finding chart paper 1, Finding chart paper 2. Orbital period is now listed as 59.72 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH018	In SMC. RA: 00:59:11.30, Dec: -71:38:45.0. RX J0059.2-7138. V = 14.1. Original finding chart paper.
LPH020	In SMC. RA: 01:03:13.90, Dec: -72:09:14.0. RX J0103-722. V = 14.8. Original finding chart paper.
LPH021	In SMC. RA: 01:09:15.00, Dec: -74:44:40.0. 1H0103-762. V = 17.0.
LPH023	In SMC. RA: 01:06:15.10, Dec: -72:05:25.0. RX J0106.2-7205. V = 16.7. Original finding chart paper.
LPH024	In SMC. RA: 01:11:08.40, Dec: -73:16:46.0. XTE J0111.2-7317. V = 15.32. Original finding chart paper.
LPH028	In SMC. RA: 01:17:41.40, Dec: -73:30:49.0. RX J0117.6-7330. V = 14.19.
LPH029	AUID 000-BCY-758; old AAVSO Harvard designation 0140+60B; AAVSO name V831 Cas. Other names: LS I+61^o235, RX J0146.9+6121. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH033	AUID 000-BBG-820; AAVSO designation 0411+55. CI Cam - this star has been on the AAVSO program for many years. You can use its AAVSO chart. Its orbital period is now known at 19.41 days.
LPH034	AUID 000-BCZ-082; old AAVSO designation 0434+41. Other names: BSD 24-491, RX J0440.9+4431. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH035	In LMC. RA: 05:01:23.90, Dec: -70:33:33.0. RX J0501.6-7034. V = 14.5. Original finding chart paper.
LPH036	In LMC. RA: 05:02:51.60, Dec: -66:26:25.0. RX J0502.9-6626. V = 14.22. Original finding chart paper.
LPH038	In LMC. RA: 05:16:00.10, Dec: -69:16:09.0. RX J0516.0-6916. V = 15.0. Original finding chart paper.
LPH039	In LMC. RA: 05:20:30.30, Dec: -69:32:04.0. RX J0520.5-6932. V = 14.4. Original finding chart paper. Orbital period is now listed as 24.4 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH040	AUID 000-BCT-897; old AAVSO designation 0515+37. Other names: V420 Aur, 0521+373, HD 34921, EXO 051910+3737.7. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH046	AUID 000-BJP-526; RX J0532.5-6551. In LMC. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH053	AUID 000-BJP-527; RX J0541.4-6936. In LMC. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]
LPH054	In LMC. RA: 05:41:37.10, Dec: -68:32:32.0. RX J0541.5-6833, LMC BI267. V = 14.02. Original finding chart paper.
LPH055	In LMC. RA: 05:44:15.60, Dec: -66:34:59.0. H 0544-665. V = 15.4. Original finding chart paper.
LPH056	In LMC. RA: 05:44:06.30, Dec: -71:00:50.0. 1SAX J0544.1-7100. V = 15.33. Original finding chart paper. Orbital period is now listed as 286 d in Magellenic Cloud LPH catalog.
LPH057	AUID 000-BCZ-340; old AAVSO designation 0549+28B. Other names: HD 249179, 1H 0556+286. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH058	AUID 000-BCZ-435; old AAVSO designation 0630+05B. Other names: SAX J0635+0533. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH061	RA: 07:47:23.60, Dec: -53:19:57.0. 1H 0739-529, HD63666. V = 7.62.
LPH062	RA: 07:50:15.77, Dec: -61:05:58.2. 1H 0749-600, HD65663. V = 6.73.
LPH067	AUID 000-BJP-528. Southern object, 1024.0-5732 = Wack 2134 = GSC 08608-00157. May not be HMXB, may be WR + O star. Not listed in Liu, QZ, van Paradijs J, van den Heuvel EPJ, A&A, 455:1165-1168 (2006). (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH069	AUID 000-BCZ-878. Southern HMXB. RX J1037.5-5647 = LS 1698. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-12-03]. VSP version.
LPH071	AUID 000-BJP-401; NSV 18753; 1A 1118-615. Southern HMXB. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-06]. VSP version.
LPH079	RA: 12:42:50.30, Dec: -63:03:31.0. 1H 1249-637, HD110432. V = 5.31.
LPH080	RA: 12:39:14.60. Dec: -75:22:14.0. 1H 1253-761, HD109857. V = 6.49.
LPH081	RA: 12:54:36.90, Dec: -57:10:07.0. 1H 1255-567, mu2 Cru. V = 5.17.
LPH088	AUID 000-BJP-529. Southern HMXB. 1H 1555-552 = SAO 243098 = HD 141926. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-12-04]. VSP version (has no APASS photometry yet).
LPH095	AUID 000-BCX-089. Southern HMXB. RX J1744.7-2713 = HD 161103 = V3892 SGR = old AAVSO 1738-27 = SAO 185681. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH100	AUID 000-BDB-845; old AAVSO designation 1820-14. Other names: LS 5039, RX J1826.2-1450, V479 Sct. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH107	AUID 000-BJP-573. Southern HMXB. AX 1845.0-0433. (SSO standards.) Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH115	AUID 000-BDC-070; old AAVSO Harvard designation 1930+53. Other names: 1H 1936+541, DM+53^o2262. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH117	RA: 19:49:30.50, Dec: +30:12:24.0. KS 1947+300. V = 14.24. Orbital period listed as 14.4d in the Milky Way LPH catalog.
LPH123	AUID 000-BDC-306; old AAVSO designation 2027+47. Other names: RX J2030.5+4751, SAO 49725. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH127	AUID 000-BFS-469; old AAVSO designation 2157+49. Other names: 1H 2202+501, SAO 51568, V2175 Cyg. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.
LPH128	AUID 000-BDC-531; old AAVSO Harvard designation 2204+54; AAVSO name 2206+543. Other names: 4U 2206+543, TYC 3973-812-1, GSC 3973-0812. Latest revision: [2010-01-18]. VSP version.
LPH129	AUID 000-BDC-567; old AAVSO designation 2223+60. Other names: V669 Cep, 2214+589, GG3 71, IRAS 22248+6058. May not be an HMXB - low priority object. Latest revision: [2009-09-07]. VSP version.

SFXT charts will be posted here as the field photometry becomes available. You may be able to plot better charts than I can with the AAVSO VSP (use the star coords as given in our SFXT project paper. Many thanks to Tim Crawford for his hard work at getting the data into the AAVSO VSP.

SFXT Charts	V	I	K
IGR J08408-4503	7.6	?	6.8
IGR J16195-4945	17.2	15.5	11.0
IGR J16207-5129	17.7	13.6	9.2
IGR J16318-4848	21.1	16.1	7.6
IGR J16358-4726	?	12.6	?
IGR J16465-4507	?	?	9.8
IGR J16479-4514	20.4	?	9.8
IGR J17354-3255	?	?	10.3
XTE J1739-302	14.9	11.4	7.4
IGR J17407-2808	?	?	?
XTE J1743-363	?	?	7.6
IGRJ17544-2619	12.7	?	8.0
SAX J1818.6-1703	?	?	7.9
AX J1820.5-1434	?	?	?
AX J1841.0-0536	?	?	8.9
AXJ1845.0-0433	14.0	11.4	8.9
IGR J18483-0311	21.9	15.3	8.6

Professional and Space Telescope Observing Runs. The data that you have submitted to the AAVSO have been extremely useful complements for the following observing runs:

SSO_2005_08: G. Sarty, 40-in/WFI, Siding Spring, Australia, August 22 - September 5, 2005.
SSO_2006_03: G. Sarty, 24-in/CCD Imager, Siding Spring, Australia, March 23 - April 1, 2006.
SSO_2006_07: G. Sarty, L. Kiss, 40-in/WFI, K. Wu, 2.3-m CASPIR, Siding Spring, Australia, July 17 - July 24, 2006.
DAO_2007_04: G. Sarty, R. Huziak, D. Luciuk, 72-in/spectroscope, DAO, Victoria, Canada, April 24 - May 2, 2007.
SSO_2007_07: G. Sarty, 40-in/WFI, Siding Spring, Australia, July 13 - July 28, 2007.
DAO_2007_08: D. Luciuk, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, August 20 - September 3, 2007.
DAO_2007_12: R. Huziak, T. Crawford, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, December 3 - December 12, 2007.
DAO_2008_05: N. Johnson, G. Sarty, D. Balam DAO, Victoria, Canada, 72-in/spectroscope, May 14-26, 2008.
DAO_2008_08: D. Luciuk, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, August 14 -21, 2008; D. Bohlender, September 18-21, 2008
DAO_2008_10: T. Crawford and D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, October 29 - November 9, 2008.
DAO_2009_01: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, January 6 - January 18, 2009.
DAO_2009_05: N. Johnson, D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, May 29 - June 11, 2009.
SSO_2009_07: L. Kiss and T. Szalai, 2.3-m/Echelle spectrometer, Siding Spring, Australia, July 8 - July 13, 2009.
MOST_2009: MOST Canadian Space Telescope, July 7 - July 27, 2009.
DAO_2009_08: N. Johnson, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, July 31 - August 11, 2009.
SPITZER: Spitzer IR Space Telescope, 12.5 hours 2009-2010.
DAO_2009_11: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, November 9 - 11, November 23 - 29, December 7 - 10, 2009.
DAO_2010_01: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, January 4 - 7, January 22 - 31, 2010.
DAO_2010_05: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, May 21 -27, June 24 - 30, 2010.
DAO_2010_07: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, July 1, July 29 - August 2, August 25 - 29, September 22-23, 2010.
OMM_2011: "Dust in the V420 Aur X-ray Binary System", Observatoire du mont Megantic, Quebec, Canada, Queued observations, 2010-2011.
DAO_2010_10: D. Balam, 72-in/spectroscope DAO, Victoria, Canada, October 20-24, November 15-18, December 19-23, 2010.
REM_2011: "Searching for Orbital Periods of Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients", INAF REM robotic telescope, La Silla, Chile, 85 hours, ID 23071, AOT-23, 2011.

Publications. The data you have submitted to the AAVSO have made possible the following publications:

G.E. Sarty, L.L. Kiss, R. Huziak, L.J.J. Catalan, D. Luciuk, T.R. Crawford, D.J. Lane, R.D. Pickard, T.A. Grzybowski, P. Closas, H. Johnston, D. Balam, K. Wu, "Periodicities in the high-mass X-ray binary system RX J0146.9+6121/LS I+61 235", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 392, 1242-1252, 2009.
G.E. Sarty, T. Szalai, L.L. Kiss, J.M. Matthews, K. Wu, R. Kuschnig, D.B. Guenther, A.F.J. Moffat, S.M. Rucinski, D. Sasselov, W.W. Weiss, R. Huziak, H.M. Johnston, A. Phillips, M.C.B. Ashley, "The gamma-ray binary LS 5039: mass and orbit constraints from MOST observations", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 411, 1293-1300, 2011.

Acknowledgements: The finder charts were made using the POSS2/UKSTU Red images from the STScI Digitized Sky Survey. The Digitized Sky Surveys were produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute under U.S. Government grant NAG W-2166. The images of these surveys are based on photographic data obtained using the Oschin Schmidt Telescope on Palomar Mountain and the UK Schmidt Telescope. The plates were processed into the present compressed digital form with the permission of these institutions.

The National Geographic Society - Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas (POSS-I) was made by the California Institute of Technology with grants from the National Geographic Society.

The Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS-II) was made by the California Institute of Technology with funds from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Sloan Foundation, the Samuel Oschin Foundation, and the Eastman Kodak Corporation.

The Oschin Schmidt Telescope is operated by the California Institute of Technology and Palomar Observatory.

The UK Schmidt Telescope was operated by the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, with funding from the UK Science and Engineering Research Council (later the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council), until 1988 June, and thereafter by the Anglo-Australian Observatory. The blue plates of the southern Sky Atlas and its Equatorial Extension (together known as the SERC-J), as well as the Equatorial Red (ER), and the Second Epoch [red] Survey (SES) were all taken with the UK Schmidt.

All data are subject to the copyright given in the copyright summary. Copyright information specific to individual plates is provided in the downloaded FITS headers.

Supplemental funding for sky-survey work at the ST ScI is provided by the European Southern Observatory.