Use of flatbed scanners for digitizing and a new reduction of photographic plates: calibration method, the measurement of coordinates, estimates of accuracy

The possibility of using inexpensive flatbed scanners to digitize and for new reduction of photographic plates with images of stars and small Solar system bodies was demonstrated . The main systematic errors introduced in the measurements by flatbed scanners were analyzed. The original methods of calibration and measurement which eliminate these errors have been developed. The average error of the measured coordinates of stars for a single plate was 50-65 mas. The error of reduction - 2-3 micron (120- 180 mas). This work was supported by RFBR grant N 09-02-00419.