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The Second International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF2)

The ICRF2 catalog was constructed by the IERS/IVS Working Group with oversight by the IAU Working Group. Derived using data from August 1979 through March 2009, it is a great improvement over the original ICRF with 3414 extragalactic radio source positions, a noise floor of 40 microarcsec, and axis stability of 10 microarcsec. Significant refinements were made in the selection of defining sources, modeling, and the integration of CRF, TRF, and EOP. The adoption of the ICRF2 was approved by the IAU in Resolution B3 at the XXVII IAU General Assembly and became effective 1 January 2010.

Ma, Chopo↗

A Celestial Reference Frame at X/ka-Band (8.4/32 Ghz) for Deep Space Navigation

Deep space tracking and navigation are done in a quasi-inertial reference frame based upon the angular positions of distant active galactic nuclei (AGN). These objects, which are found at extreme distances characterized by median redshifts of z = 1, are ideal for reference frame definition because they exhibit no measurable parallax or proper motion. They are thought to be powered by super massive black holes whose gravitational energy drives galactic sized relativistic jets. These jets produce synchrotron emissions which are detectable by modern radio techniques such as Very Long baseline Interferometry (VLBI).

very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)↗

Establishing a celestial VLBI reference frame. 1: Searching for VLBI sources

The Deep Space Network is currently engaged in establishing a new high-accuracy VLBI celestial reference frame. The present status of the task of finding suitable celestial radio sources for constructing this reference frame is discussed. To date, 564 VLBI sources were detected, with 166 of these lying within 10 deg of the ecliptic plane. The variation of the sky distribution of these sources with source strength is examined.

Preston, R. A.↗

An improved celestial radio reference frame: JPL 1982-4

In the development of a celestial radio reference frame, there are now over 100 sources whose relative positions are known with an average uncertainty less than 5 milliarcseconds. These sources are fairly uniformly distributed over the celestial sphere north of -40 deg declination. Their positions are expressed in the new IAU system. This presentation describes the analysis involved in obtaining these results, as well as future plans for linking this system to the JPL planetary ephemerides.

Fanselow, J. L.↗