--- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, Bill J Gray <pluto@...> wrote:

>
> Hi John,
>
> Thanks for pointing out the GSC 2.3 site; hadn't
> realized that had become an option. I'll add that to
> the list of Things To Be Added Once the Current Update
> Is Posted.

Hi Bill

It's one I probably mumbled something about some time ago, but the
thing is it was supposed to carry proper motion info.

However, they ended up with systematic offsets in the south for some
reason, and noted that they'd release the full version when they
sorted that out.

As they'd probably stick the proper motion data next to the coords,
which is the usual way, rather than conveniently appending 'em as end
columns, I probably also mumbled to leave it for a while until they'd
sorted the problem, as it'd only mess up the datafile format.

However, they released GSC2.3.2 eighteen months ago now, and still no
sign or hint of any final release. Similarly, they've been going to
make a http get version that copes with decimal degrees, instead of
sexagesimal, for six month, and although they've recently updated the
form page, there's been no hint of that either.

Maybes call upon the power of the "laws of irony"? As in, once you've
done a download and display option for Guide they're _bound_ to
release a final version the week after! ;)

Actually, I don't think it's ever going to change, it's apparently
staffed by two thirds of a person (consisting of two separate people
who give it about a third of their time), so it's not going anywhere
rapid.


One thing to note is the matter of the identifiers, these new HSTIDs,
ie Hubble Space Telescope identities. Totally new and unconnected
from gsc1.x or gsc2.2 etc.

If you read around the GSC site you'll also find that it's said for
some time that they now insist that HST, and indeed James Webb Space
Telescope (despite it not being built yet), proposals submitted from
now on must use GSC2.3, not 2.2.

Cheers

John