The Transit Instrument Under Optimum Conditions

On the basis of experience with RA determinations during the polar nights of 1974–1977 on West Spitzbergen and of RA determinations of the Sun, Mercury and Venus at high latitutes one can conclude as follows: At high geographical latitudes the polar night conditions are nearly optimal for absolute d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Symposium - International Astronomical Union
Main Author: Petrov, G.M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0074180900076981
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0074180900076981
Description
Summary:On the basis of experience with RA determinations during the polar nights of 1974–1977 on West Spitzbergen and of RA determinations of the Sun, Mercury and Venus at high latitutes one can conclude as follows: At high geographical latitudes the polar night conditions are nearly optimal for absolute determinations of stellar coordinates; high altitude sites near the equator are best for day time observations. It is suggested that observatories be built for absolute position determinations on Spitzbergen, and on McMurdo on the Antarctic Continent. The link between observations in the northern and the southern hemispheres can be established through observations at a high-altitude equatorial observatory, where the Sun and the planets can also be observed.