Abstract
The ICRF2 became official on Jan 1, 2010. It includes positions of 3414 compact radio astronomical sources observed with VLBI, a fivefold increase over the first ICRF. ICRF2 was aligned with the ICRS using 138 stable sources common to both ICRF2 and ICRF-Ext2. Maintenance of ICRF2 is to be made using 295 defining sources chosen for their historical positional stability, minimal source structure, and sky distribution. The switchover to ICRF2 has had some small effects on the terrestrial reference frame (TRF), celestial reference frame (CRF) and Earth orientation parameter (EOP) solutions from VLBI. A CRF based on ICRF2 shows a relative rotation of ~40μas with respect to ICRF, mostly about the Y-axis. Small shifts are also seen in the EOP, the largest being ~11μas in Xpole. Some small but insignificant differences are also seen in the TRF.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
