Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
The First Byurakan Survey (FBS) is the largest spectral survey in the Northern sky. Its plates contain low-dispersion spectra for some 20,000,000 objects. The FBS spectra allow selection of objects by their color, broad emission or absorption lines, or SED; to discover, classify and investigate them. The FBS was conducted originally to search for UVX galaxies (1500 Markarian galaxies were discovered). Selection of blue stellar objects, red stars, and identification of IRAS sources have also been done by means of the FBS spectra. All these projects have been carried out by visual inspection of the plates. Digitization will give new possibilities to search for many new objects: new bright QSOs (m<18m), new Markarian (UVX) galaxies, BCDGs, optical counterparts of IR, radio, X-ray and other sources, late-type stars, planetary nebulae, emission-line stars, and white dwarfs; and to study star clusters and clusters of galaxies. The digitized FBS will be available via the Internet and on CDs. Software and an appropriate interface for working with the data will be provided.