Ground-based astrometric observations of latitude for improved reference frame

The Commission 19 (Earth Rotation) of the International Astronomical Union—IAU established the Working Group on Earth Rotation in the Hipparcos Reference Frame—WG ERHRF at 1995 to collect the optical observations of latitude and universal time variations, made during 1899.7-1992.0 in line with Earth orientation programmes (to derive Earth Orientation Parameters—EOP), with Dr. Jan Vondrák (Astronomical Institute of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague) as the head of WG ERHRF. Dr. Vondrák collected about 4.4 million optical observations of latitude/universal time variations made at 33 observatories. These data were used for EOP investigations, Hipparcos Catalogue—radio sources connection, etc. Nowadays, it is used to correct the positions and proper motions of stars of Hipparcos Catalogue (as an optical reference frame) using ground-based observations of some Hipparcos stars. After Hipparcos Catalogue, some new astrometric catalogues appeared (as ARIHIP, EOC-2, etc.) with better accuracy of proper motions. We use the latitude observations made by visual zenith-telescope (ZT), as classical astrometric instrument, at seven observatories (all over the world) of International Latitude Service—ILS. The observations were used in the programmes of monitoring the Earth orientation during the 20th century. We received the data from Dr. Vondrák via private communication. The observatories are Carloforte—CA, Cincinnati—CI, Gaithersburg—GT, Kitab—KZ, Mizusawa—MZZ, Tschardjui—TS and Ukiah—UK. The task is to improve proper motions in declination of the observed Hipparcos stars. The original method was developed. We removed from the instantaneous observed latitudes, all known effects (polar motion and some local instrumental errors), and the corrected latitudes were then the input data to calculate the corrections of Hipparcos proper motions in declination using the least squares method—LSM with the linear model. We did an improvement of Hipparcos proper motions in declination via mentioned latitude variations with time by using a long-term (a few decades) visual zenith-telescope data of ILS. The calculated results were compared with the ARIHIP and EOC-2 data, and the consistency were good. The main steps of the calculations and some of the results are presented here.     

第二代天体测量卫星及后依巴谷地面天体测量的进展

简述了后依巴谷的天体测量工作。首先给出了第二个天体测量卫星Gaia的最新进展、最近提出的JAMSE和OBSS计划的简介,以及包含天体测量内容的SIM PlanetQuest计划的情况; 叙述了多波段天体参考架的建立和维持,特别是依巴谷星表向暗星方向的扩充和数字巡天,以及其他地面观测计划,如双星和聚星、太阳系天体的观测等;介绍了天体测量与天体物理结合的几个研究课题的进展;最后对我国自然科学基金会“十一五”天体测量优先发展的方向与内容提出建议。     

The use of radar observations of Near-Earth Asteroids in the determination of the dynamical equinox

Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) are Solar system special class objects attracting the attention of astronomical community especially during several of the last decades. To some extent the NEAs have an advantage over the minor planets of the main belt: due to close and regular approaches to the Earth the radar observations of NEAs can be obtained for the greater number of objects than for those of the main belt of the minor planets. In this paper the use of all available radar observations together with optical ones resulting in the combined data analysis solution is discussed for different problems such as the asteroid orbits and catalog orientation parameters determination. In particular the problem of the motion of the dynamical equinox in the Hipparcos reference system is considered. About 13000 radar and optical observations of 24 NEAs and main belt minor planets have been used to obtain the precise asteroid orbits, FK5 catalogue orientation parameters and the motion of the dynamical equinox from 1750 till 2000 in the Hipparcos system.     

Error analysis of proper motions in decination obtained for 807 Hipparcos stars from PZT observations over many decades

After publication of the Hipparcos catalogue (in 1997), a few new astrometric catalogues have appeared (TYCHO‐2, ARIHIP, etc.), as a good combination of the Hipparcos satellite and ground‐based data, to get more accurate coordinates and proper motions of stars than the Hipparcos catalogue ones. There are also investigations on improving the Hipparcos coordinates and proper motions by using the astrometric observations of latitude and universal time variations (via observed stars referred to Hipparcos catalogue), together with Hipparcos data, carried out during the last few years. These kind of ground‐based data were collected at the end of the last century by J. Vondrák. There are about 4.4 million optical observations made worldwide at 33 observatories and with 47 instruments during 1899.7–1992.0; our Belgrade visual zenith telescope data (for the period 1949.0‐1986.0) were included. First of all, these data were used to determine the Earth Orientation Parameters – EOP, but they are also useful for the opposite task – to check the accuracy of coordinates and proper motions of Hipparcos stars which were observed from the ground over many decades. Here, we use the latitude part of ten Photographic Zenith Tubes – PZT data (more than 0.9 million observations made at 6 observatories during the time interval 1915.8–1992.0), and combine them with the Hipparcos catalogue ones, with suitable weights, in order to check the proper motions in declination for 807 common PZT/Hipparcos stars (and to construct the PZT catalogue of μ_δ for 807 stars). Our standard errors in proper motions in declination of these stars are less than or equal to the Hipparcos ones for 423 stars. The mean value of standard errors of 313 stars observed over more than 20 years by PZT is 0.40 mas/yr. This is 53% of 0.75 mas/yr (the suitable value from the Hipparcos catalogue). We used the Least Squares Method – LSM with the linear model. Our results are in good agreement with the Earth Orientation Catalogue – EOC‐2 and the new Hipparcos ones. The main steps of the method and the investigations of systematic errors in determined proper motions (the proper motion differences with respect to the Hipparcos values, the EOC‐2 ones and the new Hipparcos ones, as a function of α, δ, and magnitude) are presented here. A comparison of the four catalogues by pairs shows that there is no significant relationship between the differences of their μ_δ values and magnitudes and color indices of the common 807 stars. All catalogues have relatively small random and systematic errors which are close to each other. However, the comparison shows that our formal errors are too small. They are underestimated by a factor of nearly 1.7 (for EOC‐2, it is 2.0) if we take the new Hipparcos (or Hipparcos) data as reference (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

关于天球参考报

章动序列计算和地球定向参数测定需要一个中间的天球参考极作参照，1984年，采用IAU1980章动理论，选取天球历书极作为参考极，利用改善岁差章动模型和由天文测地新技术确定地球定向参数实现的天球历书极，其精度可达0．1mas，随着理论和观测精度的提高，在微角秒量级下，章动和极移模型中周日和半周日成分分应被考虑，地球定向参数的高频成分已被测定，因此天球历书极的原先定义不再适用，需要更改，叙述了不同天球参考极的概念，天球历书极的定义，评述了天球历书极目前实现及其缺陷，介绍了新的天球参考极－天球中间极的定义及其实现。     

Reduction of photographic observations of asteroids to the reference frame of a single catalog

In 2000, the last international program of photographic observations of selected asteroids aimed at the determination of the mutual orientation of the dynamic and stellar coordinate systems came to an end. The Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences collected more than 25 000 observations for 15 asteroids spanning from 1949 through 1995. These observations were reduced to the reference frame of the Hipparcos catalog using dependencies published along with observations. The accuracy of observations of selected asteroids was 0.30 arcsec, which is comparable to that of modern CCD observations of minor planets. The observations are available at ftp://quasar.ipa.nw.ru/pub/SMP. An important advantage of these observations is that they are already reduced to the reference frame of a single catalog. Our criteria for the quality of the reduction methods and the accuracy of the observations are based on estimating the parameters of the orientation of the reference frames of the PPM and Hipparcos catalogs with respect to DE200/LE200. The most reliable results are those obtained when reducing old optical observations along with modern ground-based and space-borne observations.     

空间时代地面光学天体测量的意义

从基本天体测量的主要任务出发，介绍了绝对测定和相对测量之间的区别和不同用途，并针对河外射电源参考架和依巴谷参考架的高精度的不足之处，说明了地面光学天体测量的长期性和灵活性等优势正是克服这些不足之处所必须的，但这不应是传统的已有精度下的地面光学天体测量，而应是与空间测量精度可比的要求下的地面测量，两者配合起来，将能促进本学科和相关学科的发展。     

Comparison of the four catalogues by pairs,the Hipparcos,new Hipparcos,EOC‐2 and IL,by using μδ for the common 1120 stars

We present comparison results of our Independent Latitude (IL) catalogue of μ_δ determinations for 1120 bright stars with the Hipparcos, new Hipparcos and Earth Orientation Catalogue (EOC‐2) values. Also, we took into consideration the EOC3 and EOC4 (recent versions of EOC catalogues). Our μ_δ values are based on zenith telescope observations from seven Independent Latitude (IL) observatories. The IL measures are spanning a time baseline of up to 90 years which is the key advantage to the accurate determination of μ_δ. The short interval of the Hipparcos satellite observations is a disadvantage for a good accuracy of stellar proper motion, especially in the case of double and multiple stars. For this reason many astrometric catalogues have appeared after the publication of the Hipparcos including our IL catalogue. These catalogues are an appropriate combination of the Hipparcos satellite and ground‐based data which yields more accurate stellar coordinates and/or their proper motions. Among various types of ground‐based observations the latitude and universal time variations obtained from several million observations of stars reduced to the Hipparcos reference system were used for this purpose. These observations were obtained during almost the entire last century and were originally used to determine the Earth Orientation Parameters. It is also possible to use these data in the inverse task of checking the accuracy of stellar coordinates and/or their proper motions listed in the Hipparcos Catalogue. Such latitude and universal time variations data are the basis of the EOC and IL catalogues. In this paper, we computed the differences in μ_δ values between pairs of catalogues and analyzed the results to characterize the μ_δ errors for the four catalogues with a special focus on our IL catalogue. The standard errors of μ_δ for IL stars observed over more than 20 years are mostly smaller than or equal to the Hipparcos errors, and close to the accuracy level of the EOC‐2 (EOC‐3, EOC‐4) and the new Hipparcos. The resulting investigations of errors of differences of μ_δ, show that all four catalogues have relatively small random and systematic errors which are close to each other meaning that the corresponding μ_δ values have a high accuracy. Our sample also contains detected double and multiple stars for which the effects of the orbital and proper motions are difficult to separate. The differences of μ_δ values for these stars generally exceed those obtained for single stars. Also, these discrepancies could be attributed to effect of possible, still unrecognized, astrometric binaries. These investigations about the proper motions and double stars are in line with the activity of the IAU Working Group on Astrometry by Small Ground‐Based Telescopes. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Distortion of the stellar velocity field parameters due to systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere

We study the effect of systematic variations in stellar parallaxes over the celestial sphere on the results of a kinematic analysis of stellar proper motions. Our approach is based on the representation of stellar parallaxes by scalar spherical harmonics and on the decomposition of stellar proper motions into a system of vector spherical harmonics. We derive theoretical relations that relate the coefficients of the decomposition of stellar proper motions into toroidal and spheroidal harmonics to the coefficients of the decomposition of stellar parallaxes into scalar spherical harmonics. We have established that the systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere distort all parameters of the linear Ogorodnikov-Milne model and can be responsible for the appearance of beyond-the-model harmonics. We have performed a kinematic analysis of the proper motions of blue-white and red giants based on Hipparcos data. The parallaxes of blue-white giants show a strong dependence on Galactic latitude (with predominant contraction along the Galactic equator). In contrast, the deviations of the parallaxes from the mean for red giants are localized only in two regions of the celestial sphere. For these samples, the effect of parallax variations over the celestial sphere on kinematic parameters has turned out to be comparable to their rms errors. The global solutions performed using both samples have revealed strong beyond-the-model kinematic effects described by second-order toroidal harmonics and third-order spheroidal harmonics. Using the solutions performed separately in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres, we have established that not the systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere but the retardation of Galactic rotation with increasing distance of stars from the principal Galactic plane is mainly responsible for the appearance of these harmonics. Based on these samples of stars, we have estimated the magnitude of the vertical Galactic rotation velocity gradient to be 18.0±2.9 and 22.7±2.2 km s^?1 kpc^?1, respectively.     

UX Ret and CN Hyi: hipparcos photometry analysis

We present an analysis of the Hipparcos photometry of the contact binary systems UX Ret and CN Hyi. The Wilson-Devinney code is employed to model the V band light curve for several fixed values of the mass ratio. From the quality-of-fit of the different solutions a final solution is derived for each system. Absolute values of the system are derived using the parallax data from the Hipparcos catalog. Analysis of the V band photometry of two stars (EL Aqr and FN Cam) with spectroscopically known mass ratios is also provided as a validation for the methods adopted for this study.     

Le nouvel astrolabe de l'Observatoire de Paris

The new polyvalent astrolabe of the Paris Observatory is described. After some optical modifications this new instrument is able to observ the stars, some planets and the Sun with, a internal error less than 04 in the last case. Some new modifications are in progress to obtain better results and stability in the solar observations. This instrument will be able to give a valuable contribution in the solar system studies and in the comparisons of some celestial reference systems particularly during the Hipparcos satellite mission.     

Location of the rotation axis of a tumbling cylindrical earth satellite by using visual observations: Part I: Theory

Previously published methods for location of the rotation axis of an Earth satellite using visual observations have relied upon a continuous recording of its brightness variations—the photometric signature. A method is described for locating the axis by using simpler data: observations of the ratio of maximum brightness to minimum brightness during a rotation period are required. Each observation identifies an area of the celestial sphere towards which the axis must point. Several observations are required to limit the areas indicated and to remove ambiguities. The method is demonstrated, using estimates of brightness ratio obtained by visual observers.     

Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes and the distance scale for open star clusters

Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes are used to estimate the distances to the maximum possible number of open star clusters (OSC); distance moduli are estimated for 45 clusters with maximum heliocentric distances of about 1000 pc. The latter value can serve as an estimate of the limit to which it still makes sense to use Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes to determine the distances to small groups composed of 6–10 sufficiently bright stars. A systematic correction to the distance moduli of clusters from the homogeneous catalog of OSC parameters (Loktin et al. 1997, 2000) is estimated, which turns out to be independent of the cluster age.     

Geodynamic observations on the quasar VLBI network in 2009–2011

The hardware and software upgrades to the Quasar VLBI network have allowed one to increase the measurement accuracy of the Earth orientation parameters (EOPs) and to improve the quality of geodynamic observations. At present, the observations are performed within two national programs: 24-h sessions on three radio telescopes of the network to determine all five EOPs (the Ru-E program) and 1-h sessions on the Zelenchukskaya-Badary and Svetloe-Badary baselines (the Ru-U program) for a prompt determination of the Universal Time. The results of processing the observations from January 2009 to November 2011 are presented. The rms deviations of the EOPs obtained in the Ru-E program from the IERS 08 C04 series are 1 mas for the coordinates of the Earth??s pole, 0.38 mas for the coordinates of the celestial pole, and 34 ??s for the Universal Time. The rms deviations of the Universal Time obtained in the Ru-U program are 53 ??s.     

基于VLBI资料的ERP高频变化求解方法的研究

在天测与测地VLBI资料分析软件CALC／SOLVE中，对地球自转参数(ERP)高频变化的解算采用了附加约束的连续分段线性拟合方法，即要求在两个历元节点之间ERP变化率小于某事先约定值，并要求ERP在历元节点上连续．实测资料分析表明，当资料点密度较低时，引入约束条件和要求连续均有助于提高解的稳定性，但也人为降低了解的客观性，使各历元节点ERP解算结果之间相关．为此，基于CALC／SOLVE的用户偏导功能，实现了ERP高频变化的直接求解模块，不附加约束，也不要求连续．实测资料分析表明对ERP高频变化的直接求解模式更为可取．对于长时段VLBI资料的ERP高频变化求解，需要考虑岁差和章动模型偏差(天极偏移)的影响，编写相应的求解模块，并成功实现了1979至2003年长时段ERP高频变化求解．比较表明，在考虑了岁差章动模型偏差的影响时能够显著提高解的精度．为此，在基于VLBI资料解算ERP高频变化时，建议采用直接求解模式，并考虑岁差章动模型偏差的影响．     

HIPPARCOS后的银河系距离尺度

应用《Hipparcos星表》中的自行和视差等数据,可以确定员星团、毕星团以及其它近距疏散星团的距离。对由此所得的结果以及由地面观测已得的结果作了评述,指出毕星团的距离问题已经圆满解决,等于（46．34±0．27）pc。可是,由Hipparcos定出的昂星团距离,却比最新的一些地面测定结果近了10％以上．另外,由Hipparcos定出的其他近距星团的距离,明显地分为两种情况,即由鬼星团、后发星团、英仙星团和Blanco1星团确定了一条主序,而易星团与IC2301和IC2602两个星团一起,得出了另一条主序,两者相比,后者暗了约0．5mag．这些问题与矛盾,有待于进一步的地面和未来的空间观测来解决。     

Dynamics of the Earth’s core from VLBI observations

The Earth’s rotation is accompanied by free circadian oscillations of its liquid core in the inner cavity of the lower mantle, which perturb the angular momentum of the entire Earth and produce an additional free nutation of the celestial pole called free core nutation (FCN). Since this nutation causes resonances in the diurnal tides and in the expansions of luni—solar nutation, its study, especially an improvement of the FCN period, is of fundamental importance for the theory of the Earth’s rotation. We have determined the FCN parameters from a joint analysis of equidistant series of coordinates of the celestial pole obtained from the combined processing of VLBI observations on global networks of stations for the interval 1984.0–2008.4 by IERS (International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service, Paris, France) and NEOS (National Earth Orientation Service, Washington, USA). Applying a moving least-squares filter (MLSF) to these data has shown that the FCN period averaged over this time interval differs significantly from the theoretical one and its phase varies over a wide range. Using the mean quadratic collocation (MQC) method, we have obtained a new, more accurate stochastic FCN model. Its analysis by the envelope method has revealed long-term linear phase trends, calling into question not only the adopted FCN period but also its stability and, hence, the stability of the resonant effects in the Earth’s luni—solar nutation.     

Antenna design and implementation for the future space Ultra-Long wavelength radio telescope

In radio astronomy, the Ultra-Long Wavelengths (ULW) regime of longer than 10 m (frequencies below 30 MHz), remains the last virtually unexplored window of the celestial electromagnetic spectrum. The strength of the science case for extending radio astronomy into the ULW window is growing. However, the opaqueness of the Earth’s ionosphere makes ULW observations by ground-based facilities practically impossible. Furthermore, the ULW spectrum is full of anthropogenic radio frequency interference (RFI). The only radical solution for both problems is in placing an ULW astronomy facility in space. We present a concept of a key element of a space-borne ULW array facility, an antenna that addresses radio astronomical specifications. A tripole–type antenna and amplifier are analysed as a solution for ULW implementation. A receiver system with a low power dissipation is discussed as well. The active antenna is optimized to operate at the noise level defined by the celestial emission in the frequency band 1 ? 30 MHz. Field experiments with a prototype tripole antenna enabled estimates of the system noise temperature. They indicated that the proposed concept meets the requirements of a space-borne ULW array facility.     

Simulation of the detection zone of dangerous celestial bodies for space-based systems

The simulation results of zones of visibility of celestial bodies potentially dangerous for a wide-field orbital telescope taking into account the basic parameters of the detector, telescope, and movement of celestial bodies are presented. Visibility zones of 50–300 m of dangerous celestial bodies 7–60 days prior to their possible collision with the Earth are calculated using telescopes with apertures of 0.4, 0.75 (VT-77), and 1.5 m.     

The Impact Effect Callculator of Celestial Body Impacts to the Earth: The Constructor of Hazardous Orbits

Quick assessment of hazardous effects from impacts of large celestial bodies is achieved through the development of a new consequence calculator. A distinctive feature of this calculator is a new block, the Hazardous-Orbit Constructor, which simulates the conditions of entry of a celestial body into the Earth’s atmosphere and determines the orbital parameters of the body based on given atmospheric entry conditions. This block is used to simulate the atmospheric entry conditions of known asteroids and meteoroids and to determine the orbital parameters of known bolides leading to meteorite fall events. For the case of asteroid 2008 TC3 and the P?ibram meteorite, it is shown that within the potential impact area of the celestial body, the atmospheric entry angle may vary considerably.