The Guide Star Catalog. III - Production, database organization, and population statistics

The details of the production and organization of the Guide Star Catalog (GSC) are presented. Consideration is given to the GSC publication conventions, data organization, processing programs, production management, and system resources. The utilities used in the GSC construction are described. The organization of the GSC is examined, including the region data and nomenclature, the process of updating region files, the way in which multiple images of the same object are handled, catalog maintenance, updating the GSC, and quality control. The individual GSC entries are outlined, noting the catalog statistics.