The Essential Contribution of VLBI to Fundamental Astronomy

Details The Essential Contribution of VLBI to Fundamental Astronomy The Essential Contribution of VLBI to Fundamental Astronomy

May 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002ivsg.conf...14c&link_type=abstract

International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry General Meeting Proceeding, p. 14

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Celestial Reference Systems, Very Long Base Interferometry, Technology Utilization, Earth Orientation, Earth Rotation, Nutation, Precession, Angular Velocity

Scientific paper

The adoption of the International Celestial Reference System MRS based on VLBI observations of extragalactic radio sources, by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), since 1st January 1998, has open a new era for astronomy. The MRS and the corresponding frame ICRF replaced the FK5 based on positions and proper motions of bright stars. According to its definition, the MRS is such that the barycentric directions of distant extragalactic objects show no global rotation with respect to these objects. The old dream of astronomers of an absolute reference for measuring the angular motion of celestial bodies has thus become reality. This results in an historical abandonment of the link of the celestial reference system with the motion of the Earth. This has to be taken into account by revising the current concepts of fundamental astronomy; IAU 2000 Resolutions provided new definitions for the celestial pole, Universal Time and parameters to be used in the transformation between celestial and terrestrial frames, in consistency with the properties of the ICRS. VLBI observations of Earth orientation referred to the ICRS provide very accurate determination of the actual celestial position of the pole and of the Earth's angle of rotation. This has led to significant improvements in the models for variations of Earth's angular velocity as well as for precession and nutation. Such models are very useful for astrometry and provide a better knowledge of the dynamics of the Earth's interior.

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