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Space astrometry prospects and limitations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2017

J. Kovalevsky ,
F. Mignard  and
M. Froeschlé
J. Kovalevsky
Affiliation:
C E R G A, Avenue Copernic, 06130 Grasse, France
F. Mignard
Affiliation:
C E R G A, Avenue Copernic, 06130 Grasse, France
M. Froeschlé
Affiliation:
C E R G A, Avenue Copernic, 06130 Grasse, France

Abstract

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Among the few parameters that describe the generalized space time metrics, astrometric techniques are essentially sensitive to the displacement of the apparent positions of celestial bodies. This includes the relativistic light deflection and aberration. The possibilities of small field and wide field astrometry in measuring these effects are described. The case of the second order aberration terms is considered with some detail from the theoretical point of view, both for stellar and planetary aberration. New results are presented in the latter case.

A section is devoted to a description of the existing space astrometry projects among which Space Telescope and HIPPARCOS are approved but will not contribute significantly to relativistic studies. Several “second generation” projects exist that aim at 2 or 3 orders of magnitude improvement in precision. They would yield results on second order relativistic effects and may be used to determine masses of some single stars. However, the present state of engineering of space astrometric missions has permitted to identify several limitations of the present and future missions. They will not all be readily suppressed and one should be very careful in assessing now their potentialities. It seems however that interferometric techniques have more chance to reach the 10−4 and 10−5 arc second precision than the imaging methods.

Type
Future Observations of Relativity Effects
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 114: Relativity in Celestial Mechanics and Astrometry , 1986 , pp. 369 - 382
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1986 

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