Astronomical Data Coordination: A Perpetual Task

Abstract

The conference now about to be concluded has presented a wide spectrum of coordinate efforts, of accomplishments, projects, and viewpoints. As is only natural and even purposeful in a first colloquium of this scope, there are also some loose ends which we hope to tie together later. Many experienced scientists found it worth participating in the subject which is more organization rather than primary research, and this is a very encouraging feature. Most of us will have deplored, in one context or other, the lack of reliable data compilations; yet not much could be done before efficient computer and storage facilities were at hand, and we may also have nourished the hope that someone else would undertake the tedious and often thankless job of compilation. We are grateful that the invitation to convene the first Numerical Data conference came from the Strasbourg Observatory, where a large-scale and multi-purpose program has been successfully developing in recent years.