Astrometric observations of satellites of Uranus using a 26-inch refractor in 2007–2011

Abstract

This paper reports CCD observations of Uranus and its main satellites using a 26-inch refractor at the Pulkovo Observatory in 2007–2011. These are 2450 CCD frames with images of Uranus and its four main satellites, i.e., Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. The field of view of the FLI Proline 9000 CCD camera is 12′ × 12′, which allows us to obtain stars and perform astrometric reduction by Turner’s method to determine the satellites’ equatorial coordinates. UCAC2 is used as a reference catalogue. The equatorial coordinates are compared with the GUST 06 theory. The average accuracy of normal places is 0.030″–0.040″ in right ascension and declination. The positions of the satellites and their theoretical uranocentric coordinates by GUST 06 are used to calculate the equatorial coordinates of Uranus. The positions of Uranus are compared with the INPOP10 planetary theory. The paper also presents the satellites’ differential coordinates relative to one another.