Heading and Pitch Determination Using GPS/GLONASS

This article describes a single difference approach to estimate heading and pitch with a twin global positoning system (GPS)/GLONASS (GG) receiver system. Augmentation of GPS with GLONASS is not straightforward, however, because the latter system employs the frequency division multiple access technique to distinguish the signals form different satellites, rather than the code division multiple access technique used by GPS. The fact that each GLONASS signal has its own slightly different frequency makes the double difference (DD) of carrier phase observables no longer possible without modification. To get around this problem, the use of the between-receiver single difference (SD) of the carrier phase observables is proposed. In this case, however, receiver clock and other errors do not cancel out. The possibility of using a common external oscillator for the two receivers is explored. Remaining time and other biases are estimated using a low-pass averaging filter. The single difference integer ambiguities can then be resolved and the heading and pitch can be determined with a relatively good level of accuracy. Static and kinematic tests conducted with a pair of GPS/GLONASS receivers are used to validate the approach. Under reduced visibility, the combined GPS/GLONASS approach is shown to yield superior availability. ? 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the Galactic disc age–metallicity relation

A comparison is made between the age–metallicity relations obtained from four different types of studies: F and G stars in the solar neighbourhood, analysis of open clusters, galactic structure studies with the stellar population synthesis technique and chemical evolution models. Metallicities of open clusters are corrected for the effects of the radial gradient, which we find to be −0.09 dex kpc⁻¹ and most likely constant in time. We do not correct for the vertical gradient, because its existence and value are not firmly established.
Stars and clusters trace a similar age–metallicity relation, showing an excess of rather metal-rich objects in the age range 5–9 Gyr. Galactic structure studies tend to give a more metal-poor relation than chemical evolution models. Neither relation explains the presence of old, relatively metal-rich stars and clusters. This might be caused by uncertainties in the ages of the local stars, or pre-enrichment of the disc with material from the bulge, possibly as a result of a merger event in the early phases of the formation of our Galaxy.