The Contribution Of The Danjon Astrolabe To The Improvement Of The Fundamental Reference System at The Southern Hemisphere

Abstract

An historic review is made of the observation programs with Danjon astrolabes which were carried out or are in progress at the southern hemisphere. The consistency of their results in the research of systematic errors of the FK4 Fundamental System, largely confirmed by other observation techniques, is shown. The Cape and Santiago astrolabe catalogues, the largest ones derived so far for southern stars, are briefly reviewed.