Problem of Using Lunar Positional Observations for Determination of Zero-Points of Fundamental Star Catalogues

Abstract

The long series of meridian observations of the Moon can be used for the precise determination of the equinox- and equator-corrections of a star catalogue. Systematic errors of different charts of the lunar marginal zone used for the reduction of the lunar limb observations have no influence on the determination of the secular variations of the zero-points of the fundamental coordinate system.

From meridian observations of the lunar limb made during the interval 1923-1977 in Washington, Greenwich, Cape and Tokyo the following estimate is found for the correction to the right ascension system of the FK4 catalogue: which is in disagreement with the values used for the compilation of the FK5 catalogue.