Potentialities of Lunar laser range-differencing for measuring the Earth's orientation |
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| Authors: | A Leick |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Geodetic Science, The Ohio State University, 43210 Columbus, Ohio;(2) Present address: Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Maine at Orono, 103 Boardman Hall, 04469 Orono, ME |
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| Abstract: | Range differences, as derived by differencing simultaneously measured ranges from two stations to one and the same lunar reflector,
are investigated regarding their capabilities for determining the orientation of the earth in an earth-moon reference system.
Each pair of co-observing stations forms an observational unit (line) which is located preferably along a meridian or parallel.
For a time interval which lasts from the instant of the first simultaneous observation of the most eastern line to the last
observation of the most western line, assuming a reasonable observational rate and incorporating observations for which the
zenith distance does not exceed 70 degrees, an analysis of variance shows that the pole position and the earth rotation can
be computed independently of errors in the adopted lunar ephemeris and with at least measurement accuracy given a design which
consists of two north-south lines being separated by 90 degrees and one east-west line. In the case of one north-south line
the standard deviation of the meridional polar motion component does not exceed three times the measurement accuracy. As long
as the stations are located within 10° to 15° in north-south or east-west direction the standard deviations of the parameters
do not increase significantly, The lengths of north-south and east-west lines can vary between 60° to 80° and 40° to 60° respectively.
The existing lunar ranging stations in Australia, Japan, Texas and Hawaii could be used to test the suggested method. |
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