The 1964 IAU system and the Geodetic Reference System 1967

Abstract

In 1964, the IAU adopted, among the primary constants of its system, the following three constants especially related to the shape, dimensions and gravitational field of the Earth: a = 6378160 m GM = 398603 × 10 9 m 3 /s 2 J 2 = 0.0010827 These values were discussed in 1967 by the IAG and adopted by the IUGG as the basis of a ‘Geodetic Reference System 1967’. Although at that time better values of these constants were available, IUGG decided to adopt the values of the IAU system in order to keep consistency with the values agreed upon by the astronomers.