GI3035 Geodetic Astronomy Syllabus:
GI3035 Geodetic Astronomy Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The overall objective is the development of a set of practical models for the determination of astronomic azimuth, latitude and longitude that utilize observations made to celestial objects.
UNIT I INTRODUCTION
Definition and application of geodetic astronomy- Spherical Trigonometry- Spherical excess Celestial sphere- definition of terms in astronomy- solution of astronomical triangle celestial coordinate systems
UNIT II CELESTIAL COORDINATE SYSTEM
Celestial coordinate system: Horizon system- Hour angle system- Right Ascension system- Ecliptic system and their inter-transformations- derivation and problems. Variation in celestial coordinates: precession- nutation and polar motion. Reduction of star position
UNIT III TIME SYSTEMS
Sidereal time- universal time- relation between Sidereal time and universal time- irregularities of rotational time systems- Proper motion time systems: solar- sidereal- ephemerides- atomic- time dissemination- the astronomical basis of time keeping and time recording. Rotational time systems: UT0- UT1- UT2 and UTC- polar motion CIO- Earth rotation- leap second
UNIT IV DETERMINATION OF POSITION AND ASTRONOMIC AZIMUTH
Determination of astronomic azimuth- latitude and longitude- Azimuth by star hour angle and star altitudes- latitude by meridian zenith distance and Polaris at any hour angle- longitude by meridian transit distance
UNIT V STAR CATALOGUES AND APPLICATION OF GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
Historical and Types of Star catalogues- ephemerides – time span- observer location- target body almanacs. Star almanacs for Land Surveyors – Astrometry: precise positions- angular proper motions and parallaxes of celestial sources. Application of Geodetic Astronomy: Case study.
TOTAL: 45 PERIODS
COURSE OUTCOMES:
On completion of the course, the student is expected to
CO1 Understand the principles and mathematics involved in Geodetic Astronomy
CO2 Summarize and relate Coordinate Systems used for Astronomical observations
CO3 Understand and relate various time system used in astronomy
CO4 Apply astronomical observations for determination of azimuth, latitude and longitude
CO5 Identify the contents of Star Catalogues, Almanacs and their applications
REFERENCES
1. Torge, W (2001) Geodesy, 3rd edition, Walter de Gruyter.
2. Vanícek, P and Krakiwsky, E (1986). Geodesy: The Concepts 2nd edn, Elsevier.
3. Seeber G, Satellite Geodesy, Walter De Gruyter, Berlin, 2nd edition 2008
4. Kaula, W.M. (2000). Theory of Satellite Geodesy: Applications of Satellites to Geodesy. Dover Publications
5. Montenbruck, O. and Gill, E (2000). Satellite Orbits. Springer – Verlag, Berlin, 2003