... SLALIB1
The name isn't an acronym; it just stands for ``Subprogram Library A''.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... papers;2
One frame not included in Figure 1 is that of the Hipparcos catalogue. This is currently the best available implementation in the optical of the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS), which is based on extragalactic radio sources observed by VLBI. The distinction between FK5 J2000 and Hipparcos coordinates only becomes important when accuracies of 50 mas or better are required. More details are given in Section 4.14.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...equinox.3
With the introduction of the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS), the connection between (i) star coordinates and (ii) the Earth's orientation and orbit has been broken. However, the orientation of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) axes was, for convenience, chosen to match J2000 FK5, and for most practical purposes ICRF coordinates (for example entries in the Hipparcos catalogue) can be regarded as synonymous with J2000 FK5. See Section 4.14 for further details.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... used.4
An equinox is, however, not required for coordinates in the International Celestial Reference System. Such coordinates must be labelled simply ``ICRS'', or the specific catalogue can be mentioned, such as ``Hipparcos''; constructions such as ``Hipparcos, J2000'' are redundant and misleading.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... decreasing,5
The Earth is slowing down because of tidal effects. The SI second reflects the length-of-day in the mid-19th century, when the astronomical observations that established modern timekeeping were being made. Since then, the average length-of-day has increased by roughly 2 ms. Superimposed in this gradual slowdown are variations (seasonal and decadal) that are geophysical in origin, notably due to large scale movements of water and atmosphere. Because of conservation of angular momentum, as the Earth's rotation-rate decreases, the Moon moves farther away. In 50 billion years the distance of the Moon will be at a maximum, 44% greater than now, at which stage day and month will both equal 47 present days.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.