多星中天时角法精密测定天文方位角

在高精度天文方位角测定方法中,北极星任意时角法只适用于北半球中纬度地区,子午星对法则受限于选星配对条件.提出可适用于全球地区的多星中天时角法,观测多颗任意中天位置的南星和北星,通过线性回归模型修正测站经度误差和计时误差对方位角解算的影响.该方法只需已知测站的概略位置,对观测天体的中天位置没有限制.实测数据表明,与北极星任意时角法相比,在相同精度指标要求下,观测量可以减少一半.     

Global adjustment of star positions for the compilation of independent catalogs

Presented is a method of global adjustment of stars' right ascensions for the compilation of an independent catalog obtained with a meridian circle. The concept of the problem is shown first, in which corrections to the catalog positions of observed stars can be determined directly by solving a set of observation equations constructed over many of nights. Some parameters such as clock correction, azimuth of artificial azimuth marks, and the correction to an adopted value of the latitude are assumed to vary regularly over the observation period. The present method is applied to the determination of the absolute azimuth of the Tokyo PMC by using upper and lower transits of azimuth stars.     

The problem of the sighting line stabilization for axial meridian circles

The paper deals with the method based on treating the axial meridian circle and a long-focus light mark in the prime vertical as a single virtual instrument that has properties of meridian circle. A horizontal axis, a sighting line, and a micrometer cross-wire of the instrument are created by optical means. The key function here is performed by the light mark that ensures a reference direction used for formation of instrumental principal planes and directions. Stability of instrumental azimuth, inclination, and collimation is expected to be about ±0.″01. Besides, an accuracy of observations is not affected by any temperature and weight deformations of telescope mechanics. Owing to the last circumstance, the design is cheap and the telescope aperture may be increased significantly, to about 1m. An estimate of accuracy of observations depends on the adopted model of image motion, and for sites with excellent seeing and bright stars is ±0.″03 to ±0.″05 (rms).     

Errors in prime vertical-meridian observations and some suggestions

I discuss the effects of instrumental errors on the absolute determination of azimuth a and latitude φ by means of combined prime vertical and meridian observations. The analysis shows that the single-star measuring accuracy of a is much higher than that of φ . In order to obtain an independent, high-accuracy declination system as early as possible, I suggest first to carry out absolute declination measurement of stars in a selected declination zone and use these stars to determine the equator point of the graduated circle. I suggest also that single observation should be more fully utilized.     

A Method for Determining Precisely the Barycentric Position of Uranus Observed with CCD Systems

A method for determining precisely the barycentric position of Uranus by CCD systems is presented in this present article. It is required according to the method that the CCD observations obtained both with a long-focus telescope which is used to observe the major satellites of Uranus and with a meridian circle which works in a CCD drift scanning manner when it is used to observe some faint stars. The key part of the method is tested by the observations obtained with the 1-meter telescope at the Yunnan Observatory. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

研制低纬子午环初衷的沿革

介绍了在低纬子午环研制过程中，如何跟踪国内外测量方法和科学技术的发展，调整该仪器的主要课题目标：开始时仅计划在低纬度地区进行天体位置的绝对测定，改善基本星表系统；在１ｍ望远镜试验ＣＣＤ底片重迭法成功后，打算把该仪器绝对测定的恒星位置与河外天体联系起来，间接地建立准惯性天球参考架；当国外传统子午环配备ＣＣＤ测微器作相对测量后，提出了在该仪器上配备ＣＣＤ测微器作绝对测定的方法，用其观测数据直接建立实用的准惯性天球参考架，并为太阳系和银河系研究提供有用数据的总体目标。     

Positions of 46 radio stars: Observations of 1984–1985 and 1989–1991

The results of observations of 46 radio stars carried out with the Repsold meridian circle of the Kyyiv University Observatory in 1984–1985 and 1989–1991 are presented. The main goal of these observations is to improve the optical positions of radio stars for determination of a relationship between the optical and VLBI reference frames. The standard errors of averaged positions in two catalogues amount to 0.2 arcsec. These results were compared with those obtained with the Bordeaux meridian circle.     

Variation in azimuth of the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle

The variation in azimuth of the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle has been investigated using azimuth marks, pairs of circumpolar stars and three polarissimae. Preliminary results from these three methods are intercompared and some conclusions drawn about their reliability and future use.     

A Possible Means of Improving the Accuracy of Refraction Delay Correction of Neutral Atmosphere

The space geodetic technology requires an accurate model of correction of refraction delay by the neutral atmosphere that varies from one observing station to another, and from one azimuth to the next. It is pointed out that under the present condition the astronomical refraction can not yet be directly determined, any correction model because of its high dependence on the assumed atmospheric distribution, is incapable of achieving the required accuracy or of improving the cut-off altitude. In this paper, based on the special properties of the lower latitude meridian circle at Yunnan Observatory and our experience of determining atmospheric refraction therewith, a new method is proposed for improving the accuracy of refraction delay correction. Namely, the measured data of astronomical refraction of an observing station from near zenith to low altitudes in different azimuths are used to evaluate the refractivities and the parameters of the mapping functions, thereby establishing a model of atmospheric refraction delay correction that varies with the observing station and the azimuth. Since it is unnecessary for the new method to adopt any atmospheric distribution model, application of this new method will improve correction accuracy of refraction delay to better than 1mm at zenith and to centimeters at low altitudes, and improve the cut-off altitude to below 5 degrees.     

低纬子午环绝对测定瞬时方位差方法的改进（Ⅰ）

利用低纬子午环在卯酉圈东西两边同时观测得到的一对赤纬近似相等的恒星的天顶距，可以用来绝对确定仪器的瞬时方位差。这一方法不必对方位差的变化规律作任何假设，不需要改变现有的仪器设计方案。这将有利于改善低纬子午环的观测系统。     

A new list of reference stars for radio and optical coordinatesystems relationship

A new list of reference stars for differential meridian observations is proposed. The list inclides 905 stars of stellar magnitude 7–9 with 3–5 stars in each area of 252 compact extragalactic radio sources, available for high precision measurements in radio and optics.     

International reference stars and special stars programs; Organization of their meridian observations

International Reference Stars (IRS) and Special Stars programs are very important programs of astrometry. The total number of stars in these programs is about 45 000. The time has come to begin organization of meridian observations of IRS stars and Special Programs stars at observatories in both hemispheres of the world.     

Investigation of the coordinate system of irreversible astronomical instruments

Based on an analysis of the coordinate information obtained from positional observations of stars with an irreversible cine-theodolite (KT-50), we have developed an algorithm and investigated this instrument. We have determined the parameters characterizing the coordinate system of KT-50: zero points of the azimuth and altitude scales, collimation, inclination of the horizontal axis, inclination of the vertical axis, and its azimuth. An algorithm for calculating the azimuth and altitude corrections has been developed by processing the frames of CCD observations.     

Observing programs for the Pulkovo Horizontal meridian circle

Observing programs are discussed for the Pulkovo automatic horizontal meridian circle. The instrument is highly efficient and yields precise and accurate positions. We prepare an observing program of faint FK5 stars with the aim of improving on the system of this catalogue and also prepare a program of observations of IRS reference catalogue stars.     

Seismic study of stellar convective regions: the base of the convective envelope in low-mass stars

The possibility of observing solar-type oscillations on other stars is of great relevance to investigating the uncertain aspects of the internal structure of stars. One of these aspects is the convective overshoot that takes place at the borders of the envelopes of stars of mass similar to, or lower than, the Sun. It affects the temperature stratification, mixing, rotation and magnetic-field generation. Asteroseismology can provide an observational test for the studies of the structure of such overshoot regions.
The seismic study of the transition in the Sun, located at the base of the convection zone, has been successful in determining the characteristics of this layer in the Sun. In this work we consider the extension of the analysis to other solar-type stars (of mass between 0.85 and 1.2 M_⊙) in order to establish a method for determining the characteristics of their convective envelopes. In particular, we hope to be able to establish seismologically that a star does indeed possess a convective envelope, to measure the size of the convective region and also to constrain the properties of an overshoot layer at the bottom of the envelope. The limitations in terms of observational uncertainties and stellar characteristics, and the detectability of an overshoot layer, are discussed.     

低纬子午环的研制过程

叙述了低纬子午环研制的全过程，从低纬度地区子午绝对测定方法的提出和验证，仪器几种主要误差测定方法的提出，到设计、加工和安装，最后叙述了在调试中遇到的几个主要问题和解决办法。文中还以与传统子午环比较的方式，论述了在对加工精度未提出苛刻要求的情况下如何能达到高精度测量的原因。     

Frequency Distribution of Bursts from Randomly Flashing Objects Determined by the Method of Moments

A new method is proposed for determining the frequency distribution of bursts from randomly flashing objects based on fitting Pearson distributions by the method of moments. This method is applied to flare stars in the Pleiades cluster and the Orion association. The desired frequency distribution of the bursts from flare stars can be approximated by a gamma distribution. The burst frequency distribution describes the observed statistical picture fairly well. The result is compared with other methods.     

Searching for the brightest stars in galaxies outside the Local Group

This paper introduces a technique for searching for bright massive stars in galaxies beyond the Local Group.To search for massive stars,we processed the results of stellar photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope(HST) images using the DAOPHOT and DOLPHOT packages.The results of such searches are demonstrated with examples of the galaxies DDO 68,M94 and NGC 1672.In the galaxy DDO 68,the LBV star changes its brightness,and massive stars in M94 can be identified by excess in the Ha band.For the galaxy NGC 1672,we measure the distance for the first time by the TRGB method,which enabled determining the luminosities of the brightest stars,likely hypergiants,in the young star formation region.So far,we have performed stellar photometry on HST images of 320 northern sky galaxies located at a distance less than 12 Mpc.This allowed us to identify 53 galaxies with probable hypergiants.Further photometric and spectral observations of these galaxies are planned to search for massive stars.     

Photoelectric study of the sky brightness along Sun’s meridian during the March 29, 2006 solar eclipse

Photoelectric observations of the sky brightness along Sun’s meridian have been carried out at Salloum during the March 29, 2006 total solar eclipse. The measurements have been taken at different zenith distances along the Sun’s meridian using yellow and red wide band glass filters centered at 5500 Å and 7900 Å, respectively. The present results of the sky brightness during the total solar eclipse have been compared with that of twilight, and night sky obtained by the same instrument at Abu-Simbel and Kottamia observatory sites respectively. The variation of V–R color index with zenith distance have been also studied. The visibility of planets and stars during the March 29, 2006 total solar eclipse is given.