3,708 research outputs found
Analysis of the Accuracy of Prediction of the Celestial Pole Motion
VLBI observations carried out by global networks provide the most accurate
values of the precession-nutation angles determining the position of the
celestial pole; as a rule, these results become available two to four weeks
after the observations. Therefore, numerous applications, such as satellite
navigation systems, operational determination of Universal Time, and space
navigation, use predictions of the coordinates of the celestial pole. In
connection with this, the accuracy of predictions of the precession- nutation
angles based on observational data obtained over the last three years is
analyzed for the first time, using three empiric nutation models---namely,
those developed at the US Naval Observatory, the Paris Observatory, and the
Pulkovo Observatory. This analysis shows that the last model has the best of
accuracy in predicting the coordinates of the celestial pole. The rms error for
a one-month prediction proposed by this model is below 100 microarcsecond.Comment: 13 p
The impact of celestial pole offset modelling on VLBI UT1 Intensive results
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Intensive sessions are scheduled to
provide operational Universal Time (UT1) determinations with low latency. UT1
estimates obtained from these observations heavily depend on the model of the
celestial pole motion used during data processing. However, even the most
accurate precession-nutation model, IAU 2000/2006, is not accurate enough to
realize the full potential of VLBI observations. To achieve the highest
possible accuracy in UT1 estimates, a celestial pole offset (CPO), which is the
difference between the actual and modelled precession-nutation angles, should
be applied. Three CPO models are currently available for users. In this paper,
these models have been tested and the differences between UT1 estimates
obtained with those models are investigated. It has been shown that neglecting
CPO modelling during VLBI UT1 Intensive processing causes systematic errors in
UT1 series of up to 20 microarcseconds. It has been also found that using
different CPO models causes the differences in UT1 estimates reaching 10
microarcseconds. Obtained results are applicable to the satellite data
processing as well.Comment: 8 pp., accepted for publication in Journal of Geodes
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