A Giant Step: From Milli- to Micro- Arcsecond Astrometry (IAU S248)

State-of-the-art review of the growing field of astrometry, for researchers and graduate students.

Wenjing Jin (Edited by), Imants Platais (Edited by), Michael A. C. Perryman (Edited by)

9780521874700, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 August 2008

610 pages, 63 tables
25.4 x 17.9 x 3.3 cm, 1.34 kg

The Proceedings of IAU S248 reflect the state-of-the-art in the field of astrometry, summarizing the scientific achievements at the tenth anniversary of the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogue release. It shows the latest achievements in ground-based astrometry and details the progress of second-generation astrometric satellites. Currently, the highest accuracies at a micro-arc-second level are reached by interferometric techniques, especially at radio wavelengths. Establishing and maintaining the celestial reference frame at this level, within a relativistic framework, has been identified as one of astrometry's main tasks. The era of large surveys and virtual observatories brings inevitable changes to the role of astrometry in astronomy. For instance, galactic structure and evolution can be fully understood only by combining astrometric and astrophysical parameters. Finally, due attention is given to astrometric education in astronomy curricula for the twenty-first century. These Proceedings convincingly demonstrate the ever growing role played by astrometry in understanding the Universe.

Preface
Organising committee
Conference participants
Address by the local organising committee C. Huang
Session 1. Hipparcos Catalogue Erik Høg
Session 2. Highlights of optical astrometry Erik H. Høg and François Mignard
Session 3. Astrometry with radio interferometers Edward B. Fomalont
Session 4. Space astrometry: status and the future Alexandre H. Andrei
Session 5. Celestial reference frames at multi-wavelengths Dafydd W. Evans
Session 6. Towards reference frame at the micro-arcsecond level Dafydd W. Evans and Toshio Fukushima
Session 7. Stellar parameters and Galactic structure & evolution Imants Platais and Catherine Turon
Session 8. Astrometric education and outreach Catherine Turon
Session 9. Astrometry in the age of large surveys and virtual observatories Norbert Zacharias
Closing remarks
Author index
Object index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG]