Dynamical Reference Frame — Current Relevance and Future Prospects

Abstract

AbstractPlanetary and lunar ephemerides are no longer used for the determination of inertial space. Instead, the new fundamental reference frame, the ICRF, is inherently less susceptible to extraneous, non-inertial rotations than would be a dynamical reference frame determined by the ephemerides. Consequently, the ephemerides are now adjusted onto the ICRF, and they are fit to two modern, accurate observational data types: ranging (radar, lunar laser, spacecraft) and VLBI (of spacecraft near planets).The uncertainties remaining in the inner planet ephemerides are on the order of 1 kilometer, both in relative positions between the bodies and in the orientation of the inner system as a whole. The predictive capabilities of the inner planet ephemerides are limited by the uncertainties in the masses of many asteroids. For this reason, future improvements to the ephemerides must await determinations of many asteroid masses. Until then, it will be necessary to constantly update the ephemerides with a continuous supply of observational data.