The Present Status of Preparing the New Reduction of the Past Astrometric Observations to Obtain the Earth Orientation Parameters in the Hipparcos Reference System

Abstract

The IAU Working group on Earth rotation in the Hipparcos reference frame, set up by IAU Commission 19 in 1988, is presently preparing the algorithms and collecting the data obtained by optical astrometry since the beginning of the century. The main idea is to use the observations of individual stars rather than group results, all recalculated in the unique system of astronomical constants and algorithms. The final solution will be referred to the celestial reference frame realized by the Hipparcos star catalog presently under preparation. All known geophysical influences (as e.g. solid and oceanic Earth tides or plate tectonic movements) will be included into the model. In addition to traditional Earth rotation parameters (polar motion, universal time), also the pole offset components in the celestial reference frame will be solved for, as well as other relevant parameters (systematic seasonal deviations of the individual stations, instrumental constants etc.). The present status of the solution and the time evolution of its expected accuracy are described.