Title :
Astronomical time
Author :
Mccarthy, Dennis D.
Author_Institution :
US Naval Obs., Washington, DC, USA
fDate :
7/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Astronomical time serves as the basis for civil time and is required to describe the orientation of the Earth with respect to an inertial reference frame. The definitions of astronomical time scales are reviewed as well as observational methods. The causes of the variations in the Earth´s rotation are explained and a brief overview of international efforts to maintain astronomical time scales is presented
Keywords :
Earth rotation; astronomical techniques; measurement standards; time and latitude; time measurement; Earth orientation; Earth rotation; astronomical time scales; ephemeris time; inertial reference frame; rotational time; terrestrial dynamical time; Earth; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency; Navigation; Observatories; Rotation measurement; Solar system; Sun; Time measurement; Timing;
Journal_Title :
Proceedings of the IEEE
