The Status and Future of the ICRF

Abstract

The International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) is currently defined by the radio positions of 212 extragalactic objects. Since its inception there have been two extensions to the ICRF. These extensions included revised positions of ICRF candidate and "other" sources, based on inclusion of additional observations, as well as positions of an additional 109 "new" sources. With continued applicable Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations and improvements in analysis a better realization of the ICRF is now possible and an even better realization is feasible in the foreseeable future. Planning for a second realization of the ICRF is currently underway with a projected completion date concurrent with the 2009 IAU General Assembly. Within the next decade, optical astrometric satellites will present serious competition to the radio-based ICRF. Reevaluation of the spectral regime at which the ICRF is defined will then be necessary.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA466353

Entities

People

  • A. L. Fey

Organizations

  • United States Naval Observatory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • 5G Wireless Networks
  • Abstracts
  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Assembly
  • Astronomy
  • Competition
  • Earth Sciences
  • Frequency
  • High Resolution
  • Observation
  • Observatories
  • Radio Frequency
  • Southern Hemisphere
  • Space Based
  • Spacecraft
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Economics
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Space