FODS - A system for faint object detection and classification in astronomy

The structure of FODS, the system for faint object detection and classification developed at the ASTRONET pole of Trieste Observatory, is presented. The main characteristic of such a system is its flexibility, achieved through a suitable catalogue structure. Details on the fundamental operations, i.e. plate digitization, object detection, preliminary screening and analysis of peculiarities, parameter computation and object classification, are illustrated. An example of application to star/galaxy discrimination is given.