I/218 New Reference Frame defined by Extragalactic Radio Source (IAU WG, 1995)
The IAU list of candidate extragalactic radio sources for defining
the new conventional reference frame.
I.A.U. Working Group on Reference Frames
<Information Bull. IAU, 74, 3 (1995)>
ADC_Keywords: Radio sources ; References
Abstract:
This is the annex to Resolution B5 of the XXII Assembly of the IAU.
This list of extragalactic objects identifies sources which define
the new conventional celestial reference frame together with
candidate sources which may, at some future date, be added or
replace the defining sources. The text of the resolution
has been quoted below. The list is available as the original latex
file or as an ascii file.
File Summary:
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File Name Lrecl Records Explanation
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ReadMe 80 . This file
refframe.dat 59 606 proposed list of sources for reference frame
refframe.tex 82 815 latex file of source list
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See also:
I/251 : VLBI International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) (Ma+, 1997)
Byte-by-byte description of file: refframe.dat
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Bytes Format Unit Label Explanantions
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1 A1 --- SFlag *[dco] flag defining nature of source
3 - 10 A8 --- Name Source Name
12 - 13 I2 h RAh Right Ascension hours (J2000)
15 - 16 I2 min RAm R.A. minutes
18 - 22 F5.2 s RAs R.A. Seconds
24 A1 --- DE- Declination sign (J2000)
25 - 26 I2 deg DEd Declination degrees
28 - 29 I2 arcmin DEm Declination arc minutes
31 - 35 F5.1 arcsec DEs Declination arc seconds
37 - 58 A22 --- Alias Name alias of source
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Note on SFlag:
d: defining sources
c: additional sources
o: optical objects
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Resolutions adopted by the XXII and General Assembly:
(Extract)
Resolution No. B5 on the Working Group on Reference Frames
proposed by the participants in Symposium nx 166
The XXIInd General Assembly of the International Astronomical
Union
Considering that the IAU Working Group on Reference Frames
consisting of members of Commissions 4, 8, 19, 24 and 31, the
International Rotation Service (IERS) and other pertinent
experts has been formed to produce a list of candidate
extragalactic radio sources for defining the new conventional
reference frame and secondary sources that may later be added
to the primary sources or replace some of the primary sources,
Noting that a list of sources which define the conventional
reference frame together with list of candidate sources which
may, at some future date, be added to or replace the defining
sources has been made,
Recommends that this list of defining sources be adopted by
the XXIInd General Assembly (1994) as the first stage in the
definition of the new reference frame, and
Requests that the Working Group on Reference Frames be
continued and its membership be reviewed by Commissions 4, 8,
19, 24 and 31 and the IERS to
1. define the positions of the radio sources on the list,
2. determine the relationship of this frame to an optical
frame defined by stars, and
3. recommend to the XXIIIrd General Assembly (1997) that a
way be found to organize the work for the maintenance and
evolution of this frame and its extension to other frames
at other wavelengths.
History:
The original latex file was retrieved from the IAU WWW site at
http://www.lsw.uni-heidelberg.de/iau and converted to plain ascii.
minus signs in the declination were aligned in the appropriate
column by hand.
(End) N.P.M. Kuin and Gail L. Schneider (ADC/SSDOO/NASA) 1995-11-01