Results of astrometric observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites at the Pulkovo Observatory from 1986 to 2005

Abstract

The results of photographic observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites made with the 26-inch refractor at the Pulkovo Observatory from 1986 to 2005 are given. Satellite coordinates with respect to Jupiter and the mutual distances between the satellites have been determined. A scale-trale technique that does not require reference stars for the astrometric reduction of measurements has been used. The effect of the Jupiter phase has been taken into account in the jovicentric coordinates. The observation results have been compared with a modern theory of the Galilean satellites’ motions. Systematic observation errors depending on the observation technique have been studied. The intrinsic observation accuracy in the random quotient is characterized by the values 0.041″ over X and Y. The external accuracy of the relative Galilean satellite coordinates determined by comparing the observations with modern ephemerides turned out to be equal to 0.165″, 0.213″ for the Jovicentric coordinates and 0.134″, 0.170″ for the “satellite-satellite” coordinates. The highest accuracy of the relative satellite coordinates is reached at small distances between the satellites which are less than 100″: the corresponding mean-square errors of one observation are equal in to the external convergence to 0.050″, 0.070″. The results of photographic observations have been compared with the first CCD observations of the Jupiter satellites made in 2004 with the 26-inch refractor.