Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog with J2000 Positions

258,997 stellar records form the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog, incorporating cross-identifications and corrections up to 1991. The HEASARC provides this version, which includes J2000.0 positions and proper motions computed by the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Use Cases

• Cross-reference stellar objects using the SAO-HD-GC-DM cross-identifications for astronomical database consolidation
• Analyze J2000.0 positions and proper motions for celestial navigation or astrometric studies
• Verify catalog entries against published errata and corrections documented up to May 1991

Strengths

• Contains 258,997 individual stellar records
• Includes J2000.0 positions and proper motions for all objects, enhancing astrometric utility
• Integrates cross-identifications from multiple major catalogs (SAO/HD/DM/GC)
• Incorporates corrections from published errata and user-submitted errors over decades

Limitations

• Catalog is based on a 1989 version, lacking observations from the last 35 years
• Some original parameters, like RA and Dec in radians, were omitted in this HEASARC representation
• Data is derived from a character-coded machine-readable version from 1979, not direct modern observations

Provenance

Source

Astronomical Data Center (ADC) / CDS Catalog I/131A, originally from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Collection Method

Derived from a machine-readable version of the SAO Catalog prepared by T.A. Nagy in 1979, with subsequent modifications and corrections.

Time Range

Catalog compilation based on data up to 1991; original SAO catalog published in 1966.

Freshness

Catalog version finalized in 1989; HEASARC online representation created in March 2001.

Geography

Celestial coverage; positions are for stars observable from Earth.