Relativity in Celestial Mechanics and Astrometry: High Precision Dynamical Theories and Observational Verifications(114 International Astronomical Union Symposia)

The driving idea, in organizing this Symposium on "Relativity in Celestial Mechanics . and Astrometry" was that, in recent years, the ac­ curacy of several Astrometric techniques has so much increased that re­ lativistic effects are no more marginally mentioned in academic presen­ tations but have become an intrinsic part of the interpretation of all the positional data. Techniques such as V. L. B. I. , space probes, lunar lasers, etc . . . have greatly contributed to reduce the accuracy level to an angular equivalent of a few milliarc-seconds. HIPPARCOS will extend this trend to stellar astrometry and new proposals aim at gaining ano­ ther one or two orders of magnitude in observing precision. In paral­ lel, great progress has also been made in the theories of motion of ce­ lestial bodies and more rigourous treatments within the frame of general relativity become necessary. The definition of reference frames and of various coordinate times become also a major problem in the intercompa­ rison of observations produced by different methods. This Symposium gave to people using relativistic corrections in reducing their measurements or in constructing various theories of mo­ tion a chance to exchange their experience in the field and to confront it with theoreticians in general relativity. The Symposium was approved by the IAU in 1983 and it was organi­ zed by the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy of the USSR Academy of Sciences on May 28-31, 1985.

Table of Contents:
Introductory Remarks.- Introductory Remarks.- Dynamical Effects in General Relativity.- Present Problems in Relativistic Celestial Mechanics.- Equations of Motion for Isolated Bodies with Relativistic Corrections Including the Radiation Reaction Force.- Post-Newtonian Treatise on the Rotational Motion of a Finite Body.- Planetary Perturbation Equations Based on Relativistic Keplerian Motion.- On the Dominant Relativistic Terms in the Lunar Theory.- Dynamical Effects in General Relativity.- Algebraic Manipulations on Computers for Lunar and Planetary Theories.- A Relativistic Theory of Motion of the Inner Planets.- Construction of a Planetary Solution with the Help of an N-Body Program and Analytical Complements.- Numerical Planetary and Lunar Ephemerides: Present Status, Precision and Accuracies.- Polynomial Expansion of the Planetary Secular Terms: Relativistic and Lunar Perturbations.- The Theory of the Motion of Halley Comet.- Systematic Differences between Planetary Observations and Ephemerides.- Simulation of General Relativistic Corrections in Long Term Numerical Integrations of Planetary Orbits.- Predictions of Occultations by Minor Planets as a Test of Accuracy.- The Possibility of Estimating Tidal Perturbations of Jupiter’s Galilean Satellites.- Theoretical and Observational Efforts in order to Obtain High Precision Positions of the Galilean Satellites of Jupiter.- The Precision of Modern Theories of Galilean Satellites as Derived by Their Comparison with Photographic Observations Made with the 26? Refractor at Pulkovo Observatory.- Developing High Accuracy Numerical Theories of Motion of Outer Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn.- Libration of the Moon: Shape of the Earth and Motion of the Ecliptic Plane.- Reference Frames and Astrometry.- Coordinate Systemsin the General Relativistic Framework.- Relativity in Astrometry.- Reference Frames and Gravitational Effects in the General Theory of Relativity.- System of Astronomical Constants in the Relativistic Framework.- Local Measurements and Cosmological Background.- Relativistic Interpretation of Astrometric Data.- Relativistic and Perspective Effects in Proper Motions and Radial Velocities of Stars.- On Observations in Schwarzschild Background.- Numerical Effects of Gravitational Light Deflection on the Determination of the Equinox and Equator.- A Formal Approach to Stellar Positions in Solar Barycentric Coordinates.- The Relativistic Effects in Localization of Gamma-Burst Sources.- Relativistic Effects Included in the Apparent Positions of Fundamental Stars (APFS).- Techniques for Dealing with Discordant Observations.- Relativistic Effects Near the Earth.- Local Frames.- Relativistic Effects in Geodynamics.- Relativistic Effects in Earth Based and Cosmic Long Baseline Interferometry.- Spacetime Coordinates in the Geocentric Reference Frame.- Relativistic Effects in Geodetic VLBI Measurements.- On Calculation of Relativistic Effects in Numerical Prediction of the Artificial Satellite Motion.- Relativity Effects in the Rotation of the Earth and the Motion of Atmospheric Masses.- The Motion of a Geosynchronous Satellite.- Time Scales.- The International Atomic Time, Definition, Realization.- Coordinate Time in the Vicinity of the Earth.- High Precision Observations and Relativity.- Relativistic Effects from Planetary and Lunar Observations of the XVIII–XX Centuries.- Application of the Deep Space Network (DSN) to the Testing of General Relativity.- The Sun’s Gravitational Quadrupole Moment Inferred from the Fine Structure of the Acoustic and Gravity Normal Mode Spectraof the Sun.- General Relativity Confronts Experiment.- Future Observations of Relativity Effects.- Space Astrometry Prospects and Limitations.- Prospects for Observations of Relativistic Effects in the Solar System.- Accuracy Estimates for the Determination of the Solar Space-Time Metric by HIPPARCOS.- Proposals for an Experiment to Detect the Earth’s Gravitomagnetic Field.- New Relativistic Effects in the Motion of the Moon.- Gravitational Time Delay of Signals in the Kerr Metric.- Does the Energy Density of the Vacuum Influence Planetary Motions?.- General Discussion and Index.- General Discussion.