Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
White Paper
Publication/Presentation Date
7-9-2019
Abstract/Description
We argue that it is essential that the Astro2020 survey of the present state of American astronomy and the recommendations for the next decade address the issue of ensuring preservation of, and making more discoverable and accessible, the field’s rich legacy materials. These include both archived observations of scientific value and items of historical importance. Much of this heritage likely will be lost if action is not taken in the next decade. It is proposed that the decadal plan include recommendations on (1) compiling a list of historic sites and development of models for their preservation, (2) carrying out a comprehensive inventory of astronomy’s archival material, and (3) digitizing, with web-based publication, those photographs and papers judged to have the most value for scientific and historical investigations. The estimated cost for an example project on plate preservation is a one-time investment of less than $10 million over ten years plus the typical on-going costs to maintain and manage a medium-sized database.
Publisher
American Astronomical Society (AAS)
Scholarly Commons Citation
Lattis, J., Osborn, W., Oswalt, T. D., Bartlett, J. L., Griffin, E., Hockey, T., McCluskey, S., Pevtsov, A. A., Schechner, S., & Trimble, V. (2019). Preservation of Our Astronomical Heritage: State of the Profession White Paper for Astro2020. , (). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/publication/1378
Additional Information
This White Paper was prepared under the auspices of the Working Group on the Preservation of Astronomical Heritage (WGPAH) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). It was formally endorsed by the WGPAH on July 9, 2019 by a vote of 12 – 0 with one abstention. However, the views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the AAS, its Board, or its membership.