AAS 98-152

THE NEW STAR CATALOGS

P. K. Seidelmann, T. Corbin - U.S. Naval Observatory

Abstract

The Hipparcos Astrometric Satellite star catalog was released with 118,000 star positions, accurate to one milliarcsecond (mas) in 1991. There is an Astrographic Catalog/Tycho (ACT) catalog of about 1 million stars accurate to about 40 mas. This is based on the Astrographic Catalog from the beginning of the 20th century and the Tycho observational catalog from Hipparcos and goes as faint as 12th magnitude. There is the Washington Select Star List of the most accurate positions of bright, non-double, and non-variable stars that are recommended for navigation and guidance. A Washington Fundamental Catalog is in preparation that will provide the best reference catalog on J2000.0 for stars down to 12th magnitude. New catalogs in the 12-16th magnitude range accurate to 20-50 mas are in preparation. There is an Infrared Catalog currently available.

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