Wide-Field Spectroscopy, 1997 Proceedings of the 2nd Conference of the Working Group of IAU Commission 9 on “Wide-Field Imaging” held in Athens, Greece, May 20–25, 1996 Astrophysics and Space Science Library Series, Vol. 212

E. KONTIZAS Astronomical Institute National Observatory of Athens P. O. Box 20048 Athens GR-1181O GREECE The international conference on "Wide-Field Spectroscopy" and its sub­ ject matter were agreed during the general assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in August 1994 by the Working Group of Com­ mision 9 "Wi de-Field Imaging". This meeting gave an opportunity to world experts on this subject to gather in Athens, in order to discuss the cur­ rent exploitation and the impending opportunities that exist in the area of multi-object spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on: 1. Astronomical instruments, data acquisition, processing and analysis techniques. 2. Astrophysical problems best tackled through wide-field, multi-object spectroscopy. The new fibre optic technology offers an important tool for the advancement of basic research and the development of industrial applications. Astronom­ ical spectroscopy is a field of astronomy which has contributed much to the advancement of fundamental physics. The spectra of hot stars have been used to determine the well-known Balmer formula for the wavelength of hydrogen lines, in the late 19th century. Since then, spectroscopy has made enormous progress in stellar atmosphere studies, in kinematics, and in the detection of high redshifts in the Universe. The traditional techniques of obtaining wide-field spectroscopic data are based on slitless spectroscopy (objective prism). Several observations, world wide, make use ofthese tech­ niques in order to obtain information on the spectral properties of objects in large areas of the sky.

One: Instruments - Observatory Projects - Data Storing and Processing.- Multi-Object Spectroscopy with Optical Fibres.- Objective-Prisms on Schmidt Telescopes: Past Activity and Future Prospects.- Flair on the UK Schmidt Telescope.- 2dF: The Two-Degree Field Facility on the AAT.- The Spectroscopic Survey of the SDSS.- Spectroscopy with fors.- The VLT-VIRMOS Deep Redshift Survey.- A Concept Design of the Positioner of the Optical Fibers of the Lamost.- The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopy Telescope (Lamost) Project.- The Gemini Multiobject Spectrographs.- Multi-Object Spectroscopy and Radio Surveys.- The Spectroscopic Plate Archives in the Wide-Field Plate Database.- Exploring Terabyte Archives in Astronomy.- Automated Objective Prism Spectral Classification Using Neural Networks.- Automatic Classification of Digitized Objective Prism Spectra.- The New Multifunctional Spectrograph at the Bosque Alegre Station.- Multi-Object Spectrograph Taumok.- A Simple Automatic Method of Determining the Positions of Spectra on Objective-Prism Images.- DS3: Drift Scanning Survey Spectrograph.- A System for the Analysis of Objective Prism Data.- Wide-Field Spectroscopy with 3.5 Degree Objective Prism and 50/70 cm Rozhen Schmidt Telescope.- Objective Prism Spectra Database of the 70 cm Meniscus Telescope.- Two: Our Galaxy and the Local Group.- Wide Field Spectroscopy & the Structure of the Galaxy.- Some Objectives of the Wide Field Spectroscopy in the Nearest Galaxies.- The Impact of Multi Object Spectroscopy on The Study of Dwarf Spferoidal Galaxies Orbiting the MW.- Planetary Nebulae in Extragalactic Systems.- Stellar Systems in the Magellanic Clouds.- B-Stars Towards the Galactic Center.- Distribution of Carbon Stars in the LMC.- Objective Prism Spectral Survey Of A_P,MStars.- Deep Spectral Survey of Carbon Stars in the Near Infrared.- Spectroscopic Parallaxes in Determining the Correction of Relative to Absolute Parallax.- Lithium in the Old Open Cluster M67: Constraints for the Cause of the Boesgaard Li Gap.- Measuring Radial Velocities of Orion Association Members Using the UK Schmidt Flair.- Spectral Metallicity in M33.- Slitless and Multi-Slit Spectroscopy of Typical Objects in Nearby Galaxies.- Deep Survey for Carbon Stars in the Yellow-Red Spectral Region.- A Sulphur Abundance Gradient In NGC 300.- Wide-Area Interference Spectroscopy of the Ionized Gas Surrounding the OCL-352 (IC-1805) Stellar Association.- A. Kinematical and Chemical Probe of the Galaxy..- Multiwavelength Spectroscopy of the Late Type Star Iras 18530 + 0817.- Velocity and Line Profile Variations in Massive Stars, Wolf-Rayet Stars and Their Origin.- Three: Galaxies - Quasars - Large Scale Structure of the Universe.- Wide Field Spectroscopy and the Universe.- The ESO Slice Project (ESP) Redshift Survey.- The Luminosity Function and Mean Density of Galaxies from the ESO Slice Project (ESP) Redshift Survey.- A Deep 20 cm Radio Mosaic of the ESO Slice Project Galaxy Redshift Survey.- The Z ~ 0 Universe.- The Canada France Redshift Survey.- Multifiber Spectroscopy Applied to Small Groups of Galaxies.- Complete Spectroscopic Surveys of Nearby Galaxy Clusters.- Towards an Objectively Defined Catalog of Galaxy Clusters from the Digitized Poss-II.- A Galaxy Cluster at 0.82 in the Nep Rosat Survey.- The Velocity Dispersions Distribution of Galaxy Clusters.- The Cluster Velocity Field in Dark Matter Models.- A Survey in the Direction of the Great Attractor.- The Ukst Flair-Denis Survey.- Study of the Shapley Concentration.- Comparing the Predicted Abell/Aco Cluster and the MkIII Galaxy Density and Velocity Fields.- The Muenster Redshift Project (MRSP).- The Second Byurakan Survey: Galaxies.- Surveys of Starburst Galaxies.- Diagnostics of Dust Obscured Galactic Nuclei With ISO Spectroscopy.- A Redshift Survey of Obscured Galaxies.- The QSO Evolution Derived from the Hbqs and Other Complete QSO Surveys.- Optical Surveys of Quasars.- The Hamburg Objective-Prism Surveys for Bright Quasars.- The Space Density of z>4 Quasars from the Second Palomar Sky Survey.- Four: Panel Discussion and Summary.- Panel Discussion.- Conference Summary.- Author Index.

The field of astronomical spectroscopy has contributed much to the advancement of fundamental physics. Due to its multi-wavelength nature, it provides a wealth of information for studies of celestial bodies, especially when many objects (sometimes hundreds) spread over a wide angle are observed simultaneously under the same atmospheric conditions. In this book we gather together from major observatories throughout the world information on all new techniques of wide-field, multi-object spectroscopy including instrumentation, data processing for storage in large databases and automated spectral analysis. Additionally, several key projects of astrophysical importance are described by experts in the relevant fields. The main results from current observations and the astrophysical highlights e