An Approach of Tropospheric Correction for VLBI Phase-Referencing using GPS Data

The dominant source of error in VLBI phase-referencing is the troposphere at observing frequencies above 5 GHz. We compare the tropospheric zenith delays derived from VLBI and GPS data at VLBA stations collocated with GPS antennas. The systematic biases and standard deviations both are at the level of sub-centimeter. Based on this agreement, we suggest a new method of tropospheric correction in phase-referencing using combined VLBI and GPS data.     

Image Field Deformation of LAMOST due to Differential Atmospheric Refraction

A vectorial expression of the image field deformation of LAMOST due to the differential atmospheric refraction is presented. The calculated results are compared with those from previous analyses based on the traditional spherical trigonometric formulas. It is demonstrated that different tangential displacements of star images during the observation tracking given by various authors are simply due to different reference points adopted. It is pointed out that the observational celestial pole is the center of the apparent diurnal motion, that, by referring to the observational celestial pole, the effect of the differential refraction on the image field of LAMOST during the 1.5-hour tracking period is approximately equivalent to a constant rotation of -13.65" for all declination belts. It is therefore unnecessary to design a particular tracking velocity for each observation, and this will be obviously advantageous to the observation implementation. If the maximum tracking error of the fibers is 0.2", then the fibers are required to be able to re-position during observational tracking for sky regions south of declination 20°and north of declination 60°.     

天测与测地VLBI资料处理中的剩余钟行为建模

利用实测资料和模拟数据，分析了在天测与测地VLBI数据处理软件CALC／SOLVE中，剩余钟行为连续分段线性拟合的局限性和周期函数拟合的可行性．对CALC／SOLVE系统增配了周期函数拟合模块，并选取了1990年至2001年的1567次天测与测地VLBI实验，进行了剩余钟行为两种拟合模型情况下的实测资料综合解算．结果表明，在获得同等水平的时延拟合残差加权均方根(wrms)的情况下，对剩余钟行为采用周期函数拟合，使得解算参数的个数相比于连续分段线性拟合有显著减少，提高了解算的自由度．虽然在两种模型情况下的台站和射电源坐标以及地球定向参数等的解算精度无显著差异，但周期函数拟合存在可以识别的优势，85％以上的台站坐标和74％以上的源坐标以及51％以上的EOP精度均有所提高，均值分别为0．02mm、0．3μas和1．5μas．     

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).     

New consideration of atmospheric refraction in laser ranging data

In this paper we reconsider the formulae of tropospheric refraction correction for the Satellite Laser Range technique. From the expansion of the complementary error function, a new continued fraction form of the mapping function at optical frequencies is derived. The correction terms related to the operation frequency of the laser beam are considered in both the zenith delay and the mapping function. The correction for low-elevation satellites is briefly reviewed. The theoretical accuracy of the new mapping function has been analysed via the ray tracing integrals under the standard atmospheric profile. With respect to the radiosonde data, the deviations of the new mapping function are investigated in an elevation range down to near 1°, which is comparable with the results of the Marini–Murray formulae .     

A Model of Relation between Fluctuation of Double Differential Total Ionospheric Electron Content and Angular Distance of the Two Satellites Observed by Same-beam VLBI

Time delay and phase fluctuation are produced when the signals of a spacecraft are transmitted through the ionosphere of the earth, which give rise to a great influence on the measurement precision of VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry). Using the 1-year same-beam VLBI data of 2 satellites (Rstar and Vstar) in the Japanese lunar exploration project SELENE, we obtained a model of the relation between the fluctuation of double differential total electron content in the ionosphere and the angular distance of the two satellites. For the 6 baselines, the root mean square r of fluctuation (in units of TECU) and the angular distance of the two satellites θ (in units of ^°) has a relation of r = 0.773θ + 0.562, and for the 4 VLBI stations, the relation is r = 0.554θ + 0.399 from the baselines inversion. The results can serve as a reference for the derivation of differential phase delay and for the occultation observation and study of planetary ionospheres.     

基于Lomb算法的非等间距VLBI观测资料频谱分析研究

研究非等间距采样频谱分析中所发生的虚假信号问题．利用Lomb非等间距频谱分析方法对准多周期采样的模拟资料和VLBI实测资料进行频谱分析,得出了准多周期采样会产生虚假谱峰的结论．通过对频谱特征的分析,给出了虚假谱峰的位置分布的经验公式并从统计学角度证明了该公式．利用该公式可以确认准多周期采样频谱分析中的虚假谱峰位置,同时对公式的具体应用进行了讨论．其结论是基于VLBI的观测资料采样特征得到的,但同样适用于一般的准多周期采样资料的频谱分析．     

中性大气掩星标准反演技术

结合JPL和GFZ的中性大气标准反演算法，发展了上海天文台中性大气掩星标准反演算法流程．对CHAMP观测资料进行中性大气反演，并将反演结果与ECMWF(the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting)的预报大气数据进行比较．作为讨论，指出将来的发展方向．     

Potential of the VLTI for linking stellar frames to ICRF

The question of positioning the optical counterparts of the ICRF quasars is outlined in the perspective of future space astrometry missions, which ultimately will bring a new realization of the ICRS in the optical range. Ground-based interferometry with a dual-field observing mode (PRIMA/VLTI),together with the missions DIVA and FAME, will have a key role in building an extragalactic reference frame in the optical/near-IR range with about the same accuracy as that of the present (VLBI) primary frame. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Photometric detection of high proper motions in dense stellar fields using difference image analysis

The difference image analysis (DIA) of the images obtained by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-II) revealed a peculiar artefact in the sample of stars proposed as variable by Woźniak in one of the Galactic bulge fields: the occurrence of pairs of candidate variables showing anti-correlated light curves monotonic over a period of 3 yr. This effect can be understood, quantified and related to the stellar proper motions. DIA photometry supplemented with a simple model offers an effective and easy way to detect high proper motion stars in very dense stellar fields, where conventional astrometric searches are extremely inefficient.     

Study of a Bistatic Radar System Using VLBI Technologies for Detecting Space Debris and the Experimental Verification of its Validity

Space debris are increasing around the Earth. The observation of space debris is a key issue for the investigation and monitoring of space environment. But the observation opportunities and the detection ability are limited in existing monostatic radar systems. This paper proposes a bistatic radar which is composed of a transmitting station and a receiving-only station. A carrier wave modulated by PN-PSK signals is used in combination with a VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) recorder for range measurement between space debris and stations. The receiving radio wave is processed on the basis of VLBI techniques. Accordingly, the system is shown to have significant advantages over a monostatic radar. We actually formed a bistatic radar system, and observed a satellite in order to experimentally verify the validity. The configuration of the system, data analysis and the experimental results are described.     

太阳选址全国日照条件分析

利用国家气象信息中心气象资料室整编的中国756个基本、基准气象站在1971～2000年间的日照时数和日照百分率年值、月值数据集,研究了全国范围的日照条件,结合1951～2008年间我国云量、水汽要素资料,分析了影响日照的因素.研究结果表明,我国日照时数和日照百分率的分布形势一致,东南少而西北多,从东南向西北递增.在我国东部地区日照时数由南向北逐步递增,西部地区日照条件整体好于东部,符合常规.藏西南狮泉河一带日照条件最优;40°N纬度带附近和藏南地区次之,江南华南、四川盆地以及云贵高原东部地区的日照条件较差;其余地区日照条件居中.日照时数受云量、水汽要素的影响,呈负相关关系.     

嫦娥四号VLBI群时延跳变研究

相时延处理软件是嫦娥四号(CE-4)任务甚长基线干涉测量(Very Long Baseline Interferometry,VLBI)测轨分系统软件配置项之一,利用其处理着陆巡视器X波段DOR(Differential One-way Ranging)信号时,观测弧段(scan)内偶尔存在残余群时延跳变问题.论文主要分为两部分:一是根据VLBI信号接收和数据处理流程,从相关相位、频率、幅度和功率方面进行分析,最终将影响因素定位在昆明测站模拟信号异常;二是以scan内时延跳变影响因素分析为基础,通过修正异常基线相关相位,研究残余群时延跳变事后改正方法,并利用定轨软件验证其有效性,升级了相时延处理软件.     

The Study on the Group Delay Jumping of CE-4 VLBI System

The phase delay software is a key component of VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) orbit determination system in CE-4 mission, which is critical to deep space exploration. When processing X-band DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) signals of probes in the past, the group delay jumping occasionally occurred in the observed scan. This paper consists of two parts. First, according to the VLBI station signal reception and VLBI center data processing steps, we analyzed the frequency, phase, power, and self-correlation spectrum of the signal, and located the influencing factor at the abnormal analog signal of Kunming (KM) station. Second, the group delay jumping was revised by the post-correction method, which was based on the analysis of the abnormal unwrap phase. We used the corrected phase to get the new group delay, and used orbit determination software to verify the effectiveness of the post-correction method, which upgraded the phase delay processing software.     

图像移位堆叠方法用于暗天然卫星的天体测量

暗弱天然卫星与主带小行星相比,具有亮度低、速度变化快的特点.在观测这类天体时,不能简单地延长曝光时间来提高其信噪比.尝试观测多幅短曝光的CCD (chargecoupled device)图像,采用移位堆叠(shift-and-add)方法,希望提高目标成像的信噪比,获得暗弱天然卫星的精确测量结果.使用2018年4月9—12日夜间,中国科学院云南天文台1 m望远镜(1 m望远镜)拍摄的木星5颗暗卫星的229幅CCD图像,实施了移位堆叠试验.为了验证结果的正确性,与相近日期中国科学院云南天文台2.4 m望远镜(2.4 m望远镜)观测的相同木卫图像的测量结果进行了比较和分析.位置归算采用了JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)历表.结果表明,对CCD图像使用移位堆叠方法,通过叠加约10幅曝光时间100 s的图像, 1 m望远镜能观测暗至19等星的不规则天然卫星,而且测量的准确度与2.4 m望远镜的测量结果有良好的一致性.     

考虑LS+AR模型基础数据量的极移预报研究

针对目前极移最小二乘(Least Square, LS)+自回归(AutoRegressive, AR)预报模型的单一数据选取方案, 提出分别考虑LS模型数据量和AR残差数据量的组合数据模式, 并对极移预报时单一数据和组合数据预报结果精度进行分析, 探讨模型输入数据量对极移预报精度的影响. 结果表明, 模型输入数据量的变化对极移预报结果影响较大. 采用组合数据预报的方式相比较于单一数据量预报方式精度更高, 特别是针对30--360 d跨度内的中长期预报, 组合数据量的极移预报精度可比单一数据量预报精度有较大改善. 结论证明组合数据在极移预报时具有一定的优势, 可为以后极移预报数据量选取提供一定的借鉴参考意义.     

利用地基GPS技术反演武汉地区大气可降水分

利用武汉地区的探空资料和GPS实测数据，对对流层干分量延迟、对流层加权平均温度进行了检验分析．结果表明，对于武汉地区而言，常用的大气干分量延迟模型(SAAS Hopfield and Black)存在着1-2cm的系统误差，这在利用GPS资料估算大气可降水分(PWV)时会引入2-3mm的误差；对流层加权平均温度与常用的Bevis公式也存在着一定的差异，但这种差异对PWV结果影响很小．为此，提出了校正对流层干分量延迟的方法，并利用实测数据对该方法进行了检验．实践证明，这种校正方法基本上可以消除常用干分量模型的系统误差。     

Correcting systematic effects in a large set of photometric light curves

We suggest a new algorithm to remove systematic effects in a large set of light curves obtained by a photometric survey. The algorithm can remove systematic effects, such as those associated with atmospheric extinction, detector efficiency, or point spread function changes over the detector. The algorithm works without any prior knowledge of the effects, as long as they linearly appear in many stars of the sample. The approach, which was originally developed to remove atmospheric extinction effects, is based on a lower rank approximation of matrices, an approach which has already been suggested and used in chemometrics, for example. The proposed algorithm is especially useful in cases where the uncertainties of the measurements are unequal. For equal uncertainties, the algorithm reduces to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm. We present a simulation to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and we point out its potential, in the search for transit candidates in particular.     

An optimal extraction algorithm for imaging photometry

This paper is primarily an investigation of whether the 'optimal extraction' techniques used in CCD spectroscopy can be applied to imaging photometry. It is found that using such techniques provides a gain of around 10 per cent in signal-to-noise ratio over normal aperture photometry. Formally, it is shown to be equivalent to profile fitting, but offers advantages of robust error estimation, freedom from bias introduced by mis-estimating the point spread function, and convenience. In addition some other techniques are presented, which can be applied to profile fitting, aperture photometry and the 'optimal' photometry. Code implementing these algorithms is available at http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/~timn/.