The IAU Nutation Theory and Perspectives of its Change

Extract

The IAU General Assembly has adopted in 1980 a nutation series, on the one hand, based on rigid Earth’s contributions theorically computed from celestial mechanics, and on the other hand, based on non-rigid Earth’s contributions theoretically computed from Earth deformation equations using geophysical parameters.

1. 1. From the previous papers (see Session 1) of this Joint Discussion, we know that there are differences of this adopted theory with respect to the observations of precession and nutations. These differences can reach several mas, which is well above the present accuracy of the observations.

2. 2. From previous papers (see Session 2) and from the posters, we also know that there exist new rigid-Earth nutations (Kinoshita-Souchay, Roosbeek, Hartmann) of which the accuracy has increased by one order of magnitude.

3. 3. From Session 3 papers, we know that there are some additional geophysical effects that are not yet taken into account in Wahr’s nutation theory adopted in 1980 by the IAU which have a contribution at a level above the present precision of the observations. These additional geophysical aspects can be accounted for either from a semi-analytical theory (like Mathews, Herring, Shapiro and Buffett are doing), or from an integration of deformation equations through the whole Earth (Dehant, Wahr).