Geodetic Applications of Grazing Occultations

Extract

Up to about a century ago, occultations were often used to measure differences in geographical longitude. Extensive geodetic surveys, accurate chronometers, telegraphic communications, and later short-wave radio time services obviated the geodetic need for occultation observations, which are affected by geodetically severe uncertainties of stellar and lunar positions, lunar limb irregularities, and observers’ personal equations. More sophisticated methods of observation would be needed before the Moon could again be useful to geodesy.

During this century, cinematography of Bailey’s beads and the flash spectrum during total solar eclipses have been used to obtain the relative apparent position of the Sun and Moon to an accuracy which could be useful to geodesy. But observational opportunities were rare and few results of geodetic significance have been obtained.