ASTRONOMICAL YEARBOOK for 2008 (in Russian)

Preface

In the “Astronomical Yearbook” (AY) the ephemerides of the Sun, Moon, major planets and stars computed with the maximum precision in accordance with the resolutions approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) are published. The information is also given on various astronomical phenomena – lunar and solar eclipses, planetary configurations, rises and sets of the Sun and Moon, etc. The explanation, contained the examples, illustrates the possibility of the calculation of various ephemerides to any particular time and for the any observation place.

Since issue for 2004 the reform AY was carried out connected to change of ephemerical basis AY according to Recommendations XXIII-XXIV General assemblies IAU. In the course several years full replacement of theories of movement of major planets and the Moon, of the precession-nutation models, of the star catalogue is stage by stage made. The system of coordinates based on the new concept of “the non-rotating origin” is entered. Separate stages of reform are described in forewords and explanations to the Yearbooks on 2004-2007.

Preparation of the AE-2008 ephemerides is based on the following data:

In that way the important changes took place in most parts of “The Astronomical Yearbook”.

Since edition for 1997 all ephemeris data are calculated using “AE” – “Astronomical Yearbook” software package created in the laboratory of astronomical yearbooks. In edition for 2008 the ephemerides of the Sun, the Moon, planets and the terms of reductions are calculated by means of the PS AY-EPM edition package of a multi-purpose program complex the ERA developed in IAA of RAS for the decision of problems of ephemeris astronomy.

In “The Astronomical Yearbook for 2008” the calculation of the ephemeris data was carried out by following collaborators of the laboratory of astronomical yearbooks:

The data control was carried out by N.I. Glebova, N.K. Omelyanchuk, and I.A. Lebedeva.

The essential edition of the explanation for the Yearbook was carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova, and M.L. Sveshnikov. The additional information on algorithms of calculation of ephemerides published in AY is given in “The Explanatory Supplement to “the Astronomical Yearbook” (“Transactions of IAA of RAS”, 2004, vol.10). The examples in the Explanation were carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova and M.L. Sveshnikov.

The Explanation in the TEX was carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova, M.L. Sveshnikov and N.K. Omelyanchuk. Since 1995 the publication of the “Astronomical Yearbook” was carried out by means of the “System of the table edition issue SVITA” worked out by the collaborations of the astronomical software development technology laboratory. The preparation of the edition of “The Astronomical Yearbook for 2008” was carry out with the participation of G.A. Necvetaeva, D.A. Ryzhkova.

The original-maket of the Yearbook was prepared in IAA RAS.

Some ephemerides published in Yearbook were inserted in Internet:

http://vm-www.ipa.nw.ru/PAGE/EDITION/ENG/newe.htm

WEB-master – N.I. Alehina.

Director of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of RAS
Corresponding member of RAS A.M.Finkelshtejn

Contents

Appendix: Coordinates of observatories

Appendix: Satellites of Jupiter