Astrometric analysis of digitized historical plates: the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute archive Qudratillo Yuldoshev, Zheng-Jun Shang, Sobir Turaev, Mei-Ting Yang, Shuhrat Ehgamberdiev, et al. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2026 Over more than a century, the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute (UBAI) has accumulated a valuable archive of more than 15 000 glass photographic plates obtained mainly with the Tashkent Normal Astrograph (TNA) (1895–1990s) and the Double Astrograph of Zeiss (1975–2005). Since 2014, systematic efforts have been made to classify, preserve, and digitize the archive. This paper presents a detailed overview of the UBAI archive data set, including the classification scheme for the glass plates, the astronomical observations carried out with these plates, and the data processing pipeline applied to the digitized images. The astrometric reduction of digitized single-exposure plates is improved over previous methods by including Point Spread Function (PSF) fitting (using SExtractor and PSFEx) and an improved secondary fitting with the Gaia Data Release 3 catalogue. This process involved determining the optimal third-order plate model, correcting the magnitude equation, and applying a new local correction algorithm to remove residual distortions. Analysis of the first batch of processed plates shows high-astrometric accuracy for the TNA plates. The results confirm the effectiveness of the improved digitization system and the improved processing workflow in obtaining accurate positional information from historical astronomical plates.
A wiggling filamentary jet at the origin of the blazar multi-wavelength behaviour C. M. Raiteri, M. Villata, M. I. Carnerero, S. O. Kurtanidze, D. O. Mirzaqulov, et al. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2024 Context. Blazars are beamed active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known for their strong multi-wavelength variability on timescales ranging from years down to minutes. Many different models have been proposed to explain this variability. Aims. We aim to investigate the suitability of the twisting jet model presented in previous works to explain the multi-wavelength behaviour of BL Lacertae, the prototype of one of the blazar classes. According to this model, the jet is inhomogeneous, curved, and twisting, and the long-term variability is due to changes in the Doppler factor due to variations in the orientation of the jet-emitting regions. Methods. We analysed optical data of the source obtained during monitoring campaigns organised by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) in 2019–2022, together with radio data from the WEBT and other teams, and γ-ray data from the Fermi satellite. In this period, BL Lacertae underwent an extraordinary activity phase, reaching its historical optical and γ-ray brightness maxima. Results. The application of the twisting jet model to the source light curves allows us to infer the wiggling motion of the optical, radio, and γ-ray jet-emitting regions. The optical-radio correlation shows that the changes in the radio viewing angle follow those in the optical viewing angle by about 120 days, and it suggests that the jet is composed of plasma filaments, which is in agreement with some radio high-resolution observations of other sources. The γ-ray emitting region is found to be co-spatial with the optical one, and the analysis of the γ-optical correlation is consistent with both the geometric interpretation and a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) origin of the high-energy photons. Conclusions. We propose a geometric scenario where the jet is made up of a pair of emitting plasma filaments in a sort of double-helix curved rotating structure, whose wiggling motion produces changes in the Doppler beaming and can thus explain the observed multi-wavelength long-term variability.
Present status of UBAI plate archive Ehgamberdiev Shuhrat Abdumannapovich, Yuldoshev Qudratillo Khabibullaevich, Turaev Sobir Jurakobilovich, Jianhai Zhao, Meiting Yang, et al. Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2023 This paper discusses a photographic plate archive of the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute (UBAI) of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, the history of photometric observations, the current state of photometric plates, and the process of their digitization. We will talk about telescopes used for observations, their characteristics and observations. In addition, we will also talk about the preparation of photographic plates for scanning. Also, the work carried out in the “UBAI-SHAO scientific and technical project” on digitization of photographic plates in the UBAI archive at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and future work will be reviewed and discussed.
The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES). I. General Description and the First Data Release (DR1) Zhou Fan, Gang Zhao, Wei Wang, Jie Zheng, Jingkun Zhao, et al. Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 2023 The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES) of the northern sky is a specifically designed multiband photometric survey aiming to provide reliable stellar parameters with accuracy comparable to those from low-resolution optical spectra. It was carried out with the 2.3 m Bok telescope of Steward Observatory and three other telescopes. The observations in the u s and v s passband produced over 36,092 frames of images in total, covering a sky area of ∼9960 deg2. The median survey completenesses of all observing fields for the two bands are u s = 20.4 mag and v s = 20.3 mag, respectively, while the limiting magnitudes with signal-to-noise ratio of 100 are u s ∼ 17 mag and v s ∼ 18 mag, correspondingly. We combined our catalog with the data release 1 (DR1) of the first Panoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS, PS1) catalog, and obtained a total of 48,553,987 sources that have at least one photometric measurement in each of the SAGES u s and v s and PS1 grizy passbands. This is the DR1 of SAGES, released in this paper. We compared our gri point-source photometry with those of PS1 and found an rms scatter of ∼2% difference between PS1 and SAGES for the same band. We estimated an internal photometric precision of SAGES to be of the order of ∼1%. Astrometric precision is better than 0.″2 based on comparison with DR1 of the Gaia mission. In this paper, we also describe the final end-user database, and provide some science applications.
Catalog of equatorial coordinates and B-magnitudes of the Kitab's part of the FON project Q. Yuldoshev, Y. Protsyuk, H. Relke, S. Ehgamberdiev, M. Muminov, et al. Astronomische Nachrichten, 2019 We present a catalog of stars with equatorial coordinates α and δ and B‐magnitudes of stars for the Kitab's section of the FON project (FON‐Kitab). The photographic plates of the FON project were exposed on the double telescope Double Zeiss Astrograph (DAZ, D/F = 40/300, 69″/mm) at the Kitab observatory of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A total of 1963 plates, with size of 5.5 × 5.5 degrees (30 × 30 cm or 13,000 × 13,000 pixels) were digitized by Epson Expression 10000XL scanner with 1,200 dpi resolution. The reduction of plates was processed in the four astronomical organizations: Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute (UBAI) of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences; the Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; the Walter Hohmann Observatory of Essen, Germany; and the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The catalogue contains nearly 13.4 million stars and galaxies from 0° to −20° according to declination down to B = 17. m5 in the middle epoch of observation 1985.0. The coordinates of the stars and galaxies were obtained from the Tycho‐2 catalogue, while B‐magnitudes were determined in the system of photoelectric standards. The mean internal errors of the new catalogue for all objects were σαδ = 0. ′′23 and σB = 0. m15 (for the stars in the range of B = 5m − 14m, the errors are σαδ = 0. ′′085 and σB = 0. m054 for the equatorial coordinates and the B‐magnitudes, respectively). The convergence between the calculated and reference positions was σαδ = 0. ′′042. The convergence with the photoelectric B‐magnitudes is σB = 0. m16. External comparison with UCAC‐4 based on 9,892,697 or 73.8% cross‐identified objects yield σαδ = 0. ′′26.
Astrometric analysis of digitized historical plates: the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute archive Q Yuldoshev, ZJ Shang, S Turaev, MT Yang, S Ehgamberdiev, ... Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 547 (2), stag335 , 2026 2026
Ulugh Beg's patronage and astronomical bookmaking S Ehgamberdiev, R Khudayberganov, S Ilyasov, Q Yuldoshev Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 28 (2), 337 , 2025 2025
Present status of UBAI plate archive E Shuhrat Abdumannapovich, Y Qudratillo Khabibullaevich, ... Journal for the History of Astronomy 54 (4), 456-468 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES). I. General Description and the First Data Release (DR1) Z Fan, G Zhao, W Wang, J Zheng, J Zhao, C Li, Y Chen, H Yuan, H Li, ... The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 268 (1), 9 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES). I. General Description and the First Data Release (DR1) The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 268 (1), 1-18 , 2023 2023
New reduction of old glass astronomical plates of Pallas and Vesta in 1956–1994 based on Gaia DR3 catalogue LL Wang, Y Yu, QX Yuldoshev, SA Ehgamberdiev, ZJ Shang, MT Yang, ... Planetary and Space Science 227, 105637 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Yerga yaqinlashuvchi amurlar guruhiga mansub 6569 ondaatje (1993 mo) va 276786 (2004 kd1) asteroidlarining fotometrik tahlili QXY K.E. Ergashev, R.I.Tojiyev RIAK_XVI, 41-44 , 2023 2023
Dynamics of globular clusters with black holes QXY S. J. Turaev RIAK-XVI, 24-26 , 2023 2023
АСТРОФОТОГРАФИК АРХИВЛАР ВА УЛАРНИ РАҚАМЛАШТИРИШ ЛОЙИҲАЛАРИ МММ Қ.Х.Йўлдошев, Ш.А.Эгамбердиев, С.Ж.Тўраев The bulletin of young scientists 4 (4), 27-31 , 2022 2022
Test of the scanner for expression the astrometric and photometric parameters from the digitized plates ST Q. Yuldoshev, M. Muminov, V. Andruk, Sh. Ehgamberdiev Uzbek Journal of Physics 24 (2), 81-89 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
History of astrophotography MMM Q.X. Yuldoshev, S.J. Turayev Астрономия фанини ўқитишда замонавий таълим технологияларидан фойдаланиш … , 2022 2022
THE CURRENT STATUS OF UBAI ARCHIVE PLATES JNK Yuldoshev Q.X., Ehgamberdiev Sh.A., Hafizov A.R., Omonov A.U., Abidxanov ... RIAK-XV 1, 54-56 , 2022 2022
ОЦИФРОВКА ФОТОПЛАСТИНОК АСТРОНОМИЧЕСКОГО ИНСТИТУТА АН РУЗ КХ Йулдошев, ША Эгамбердиев, СЖ Тураев, БС Абидханов The bulletin of young scientists 4 (4), 24-26 , 2022 2022
VizieR Online Data Catalog: 2728 asteroid positions (Kitab obs.)(Shatokhina+, 2018) SV Shatokhina, H Relke, Q Yuldoshev, VM Andruk, YI Protsyuk, ... VizieR Online Data Catalog (other) 630, J/other/OAP/31 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
FON Dushanbe Catalogue. Results of Processing in the Tycho-2 System G Kokhirova, H Relke, Q Yuldoshev, YI Protsyuk, VM Andruk Odessa Astronomical Publications 34, 106 , 2021 2021 Citations: 6
Asteroid Positions Based on the Dushanbe Part of the FON Project Observations SV Shatokhina, H Relke, AS Mullo-Abdolov, OM Yizhakevych, ... Одеські астрономічні публікації 33, 154-157 , 2020 2020 Citations: 4
ON THE “SOLAR SYSTEM SMALL BODIES” ASTROPLATE PROJECT OF THE UKRAINIAN VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY SV Shatokhina, OM Yizhakevych, YI Protsyuk, LV Kazantseva, ... Одеські астрономічні публікації 32, 203-207 , 2019 2019 Citations: 3
The astrometric and photometric results of digitized plates on Epson expression 10000XL scanner with different resolutions Q Yuldoshev, V Andruk Одеські астрономічні публікації 32, 208-210 , 2019 2019 Citations: 3
On the FON astroplate project accomplishment VM Andruk, LK Pakuliak, I Eglitis, Q Yuldoshev, A Mullo-Abdolov, ... Одеські астрономічні публікації 32, 185-188 , 2019 2019 Citations: 1
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Catalog of equatorial coordinates and B -magnitudes of stars of the Kitab part of the FON project QX Yuldoshev, SA Ehgamberdiev, MM Muminov, YI Protsyuk, H Relke, ... Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies 33 (5), 250-253 , 2017 2017 Citations: 23
About star photometry on digitized astronegatives VM Andruk, LK Pakuliak, VV Golovnia, SV Shatokhina, OM Yizhakevych, ... Science and Innovation 13 (1), 15-23 , 2017 2017 Citations: 23
On the concept of the enhanced fon catalog compilation V Andruk, Q Yuldoshev, I Eglitis, L Pakuliak, A Mullo-Abdolov, I Vavilova, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 159-162 , 2017 2017 Citations: 19
Investigation of the Microtek ScanMaker 1000XL Plus scanner of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan A Mullo-Abdolov, G Kokhirova, H Relke, Q Yuldoshev, Y Protsyuk, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 186-189 , 2017 2017 Citations: 16
Comparison of zero zone catalogues of the FON program based on the Kyiv and Kitab observations VM Andruk, H Relke, YI Protsyuk, MM Muminov, SA Ehgamberdiev, ... Odessa Astronomical Publications, 188 , 2015 2015 Citations: 15
Asteroids search results in digitized observations of the northern sky survey project (Kitab part) SV Shatokhina, H Relke, Q Yuldoshev, VM Andruk, YI Protsyuk, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 235-246 , 2018 2018 Citations: 14
The equatorial coordinates and B-magnitudes of the stars in the Southern hemisphere zones based on the digitized astronegatives of FON project at the Ulugh Beg Astronomical … QX Yuldoshev, MM Muminov, SA Ehgamberdiev, OU Usmanov, H Relke, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 160-162 , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
Method for evaluating the astrometric and photometric characteristics of commercial scanners in their application for the scientific purpose YI Protsyuk, VN Andruk, MM Muminov, QX Yuldoshev, SA Ehgamberdiev, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 61-62 , 2014 2014 Citations: 13
Catalog of equatorial coordinates and B‐magnitudes of the Kitab's part of the FON project Q Yuldoshev, Y Protsyuk, H Relke, S Ehgamberdiev, M Muminov, ... Astronomische Nachrichten 340 (6), 494-509 , 2019 2019 Citations: 12
Catalogue of coordinates and b-magnitudes in-20º–+ 2º zone based on the Ulughbeg Astronomical Institute part of the FON project QX Yuldoshev, MM Muminov, SA Ehgamberdiev, H Relke, YI Protsyuk, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 205-208 , 2017 2017 Citations: 10
Astrometry of the h and χ Persei clusters based on the processing of digitized photographic plates M Muminov, Q Yuldoshev, S Ehgamberdiev, B Kahharov, H Relke, ... Bulgarian Astronomical Journal 26 (3) , 2017 2017 Citations: 10
Astrometry of X and h Persei based on processing of digitized plates of archive of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan MM Muminov, QX Yuldoshev, SA Ehgamberdiev, BB Kahharov, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 57-58 , 2014 2014 Citations: 10
An astrometry of test plates digitized with EPSON EXPRESSION 10000XL scanner MM Muminov, BB Kahharov, KH Yuldoshev, VM Andruk, VV Golovnya Izvestia of the Main Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo 220, 517-522 , 2013 2013 Citations: 10
Progress in the realization of the project FON-Dushanbe catalogue A Mullo-Abdolov, H Relke, G Kokhirova, Q Yuldoshev, Y Protsyuk, ... Odessa astronomical publications, 224-227 , 2018 2018 Citations: 8
New reduction of old glass astronomical plates of Pallas and Vesta in 1956–1994 based on Gaia DR3 catalogue LL Wang, Y Yu, QX Yuldoshev, SA Ehgamberdiev, ZJ Shang, MT Yang, ... Planetary and Space Science 227, 105637 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
FON Dushanbe Catalogue. Results of Processing in the Tycho-2 System G Kokhirova, H Relke, Q Yuldoshev, YI Protsyuk, VM Andruk Odessa Astronomical Publications 34, 106 , 2021 2021 Citations: 6
Astrometry and photometry of digitized plates of the FON-KITAB project K Yuldoshev, O Usmanov, E Egamberdiev, M Muminov, E Rel'ke, ... Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv 54, 28-31 , 2016 2016 Citations: 6
The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES). I. General Description and the First Data Release (DR1) Z Fan, G Zhao, W Wang, J Zheng, J Zhao, C Li, Y Chen, H Yuan, H Li, ... The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 268 (1), 9 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
Asteroid Positions Based on the Dushanbe Part of the FON Project Observations SV Shatokhina, H Relke, AS Mullo-Abdolov, OM Yizhakevych, ... Одеські астрономічні публікації 33, 154-157 , 2020 2020 Citations: 4
Test of the scanner for expression the astrometric and photometric parameters from the digitized plates ST Q. Yuldoshev, M. Muminov, V. Andruk, Sh. Ehgamberdiev Uzbek Journal of Physics 24 (2), 81-89 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3