Analysis of Lunar Laser Ranging Data and Performance and Analysis of VLBI Observations for Geodetic Purposes.
Abstract
UT0 and variation of latitude have been determined from the McDonald Observatory lunar laser ranging (LLR) observations for the period October 1970 to October 1979. We have compared our estimates with those determined from the UT1 and pole position values obtained using other techniques. In 1978, the distance between the Haystack Observatory in the United States and the Onsala Space Observatory in Sweden was determined by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) with the 'Mark-I' System; the estimated uncertainty was less than 10 cm. In 1979 and again in 1980, the distance between these observatories was redetermined with the 'Mark-III' VLBI System. On each occasion, transatlantic distances were also determined by VLBI between one or both of these observatories and various other sites in the U.S. and Europe. Preliminary solutions using the November 1979 experiment data have indicated that the Mark-I derived baseline lengths are consistent with the Mark-III values within the quoted 10 cm precision of the Mark-I values. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 27, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA098960
Entities
People
- C. C. Counselman Iii
- I. I. Shapiro
- R. B. Langley
- T. A. Herring
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology