IAU Working Group for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (NSFA): Past Efforts and Future Endeavors

International audienceIn 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA) established the Working Group (WG) for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (NSFA). The NSFA WG Current Best Estimates (CBEs) were adopted at the 2009 IAU GA in Resolution B2 as the IAU (2009) System of Astronomical Constants. The IAU 2012 Resolution on the re-definition of the au was proposed by the NSFA WG. Since then, the WG has concentrated on establishing the process for maintaining the CBEs in an effort to provide a service for the IAU. The NSFA web presence documents both the IAU (2009) System of Astronomical Constants and the CBEs. All old pages of the CBEs are archived in order to document history of the CBEs. The CBE policy documents the procedures established for proposal, discussion, and voting for the adoption of new CBEs. The talk reviews the efforts of the WG and provides insight into future efforts

IAU Working Group for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (NSFA): Past Efforts and Future Endeavors

International audienceIn 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA) established the Working Group (WG) for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (NSFA). The NSFA WG Current Best Estimates (CBEs) were adopted at the 2009 IAU GA in Resolution B2 as the IAU (2009) System of Astronomical Constants. The IAU 2012 Resolution on the re-definition of the au was proposed by the NSFA WG. Since then, the WG has concentrated on establishing the process for maintaining the CBEs in an effort to provide a service for the IAU. The NSFA web presence documents both the IAU (2009) System of Astronomical Constants and the CBEs. All old pages of the CBEs are archived in order to document history of the CBEs. The CBE policy documents the procedures established for proposal, discussion, and voting for the adoption of new CBEs. The talk reviews the efforts of the WG and provides insight into future efforts

Appendix: Final Update of the IAU Division A Commission 4 Working Group on Standardizing Access to Ephemerides and File Format Specification

International audienceThe IAU Commission 4 Working Group on Standardizing Access to Ephemerides recommends the use of the Spacecraft and Planet Kernel (SPK) format to provide a uniform format for the position ephemerides of planets and other natural solar system bodies, and the use of the Planetary Constants Kernel (PCK) for the orientation of these bodies. These formats are used by the SPICE system, developed by the Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The working group's final report is currently undergoing final preparations for publication. A long version of this report will be available at the IAU Commission 4: Ephemerides (or its successor) web site. This long version will contain a full description of that portion of the SPK and PCK formats required to duplicate these file types for this application

Historical Reflections on the Work of Commission 4

International audienceCommission 4 was among the first set of commissions formed within the IAU at its founding in 1919. (Commissions were originally called ``Standing Committees.'') During its 96 years of service to the IAU and astronomical community in general, the commission has been fortunate to have been led by many distinguished scientists - see the list of presidents below