Current status of the IAU Working Group for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy

B. Luzum, N. Capitaine, A. Fienga, B. Folkner, T. Fukushima, J. Hilton, C. Hohenkerk, G. Krasinsky, G. Petit, E. Pitjeva, M. Soffel, P. Wallace

Proceedings of the Journées 2007 "Systèmes de Référence Spatio-Temporels", N. Capitaine (ed.), Observatoire de Paris, 55-57 (2008)

Abstract

At the 2006 International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA), a proposal was adopted to form the Working Group (WG) for Numerical Standards of Fundamental Astronomy. The goal of the WG are to update “IAU Current Best Estimates” conforming with IAU Resolutions, the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS) Conventions, and the Syst`eme International d’Unit´es (SI). Initial efforts have concentrated on determining which constants should be considered, the terminology regarding the description of the constants, and the dependence of the constant estimates on their associated models. The current status of WG activities and the anticipated future directions are presented.