Comparison of Instruments and Methods of Positional Observations of the Sun and Major Planets

Extract

During the last decades, regular meridian observations of the Sun and major planets have been mainly carried out at Washington and Greenwich observatories. However, after 1960 position observations of Solar system bodies were initiated at many observatories throughout the world. The photographic and the equal altitude methods are widely used at this time, besides the meridian method. According to available information, during the time interval from 1960 to 1980,altogether 19 meridian instruments, 12 astrographs and 5 astrolabes took part in observations of the Sun and the major planets. More than 40.000 observations of single coordinates - right ascension and declinations have been obtained.