Method for Determining the Astronomical Azimuth Using a High-Precision Electronic Total Station Leica TC 2003
Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 72, 42–45 (2025)
DOI: 10.32876/ApplAstron.72.42-45
Keywords: astronomical azimuth, total station, Leica TC 2003, Polar hour angle, observation program, astronomical station wagon
About the paper Full textAbstract
To obtain high-precision astronomical azimuth, the following methods can be proposed: determining the azimuth by the hour angle of celestial bodies, from the observations of stars passing through the vertical of a local object, and from the observation of stars in the meridian. These astronomical methods are historically the first ones and are still currently the most accurate and resource-intensive. Their use requires several days of measurements and up to three qualified specialists. These methods were designed and described for the use with specific (now outdated) optical-mechanical equipment. Today, such instruments have completely exhausted their resources, their operational lifespan has expired, but the need for obtaining astronomical azimuth remains relevant to this day. Thus, there is a necessity to explore modern samples of topographic and geodetic equipment for determining high-precision astronomical azimuth. The aim of the work is to develop a methodology for determining high-precision astronomical azimuth using the advanced modern optoelectronic equipment. The astronomical azimuth was determined using the hour angle of the Polar Star. A set of high-precision electronic total station Leica TC 2003 was used in this research. The azimuth determination program was carried out over three evenings in the forward and reverse directions on concrete pillars with forced centering in 18 steps. After the experiment, the result values of assessing the accuracy of azimuth determination have not exceeded 1ʺ, and the discrepancy between forward and reverse azimuths was 2.5ʺ. This means that the Leica TC 2003 total station is suitable for high-precision azimuth determination.
Citation
A. I. Yakovlev, R. I. Altunin, K. K. Zhbanov, A. V. Prokofiev. Method for Determining the Astronomical Azimuth Using a High-Precision Electronic Total Station Leica TC 2003 // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2025. — Issue 72. — P. 42–45.
@article{yakovlev2025,
abstract = {To obtain high-precision astronomical azimuth, the following methods can be proposed: determining the azimuth by the hour angle of celestial bodies, from the observations of stars passing through the vertical of a local object, and from the observation of stars in the meridian. These astronomical methods are historically the first ones and are still currently the most accurate and resource-intensive. Their use requires several days of measurements and up to three qualified specialists. These methods were designed and described for the use with specific (now outdated) optical-mechanical equipment. Today, such instruments have completely exhausted their resources, their operational lifespan has expired, but the need for obtaining astronomical azimuth remains relevant to this day. Thus, there is a necessity to explore modern samples of topographic and geodetic equipment for determining high-precision astronomical azimuth.
The aim of the work is to develop a methodology for determining high-precision astronomical azimuth using the advanced modern optoelectronic equipment.
The astronomical azimuth was determined using the hour angle of the Polar Star. A set of high-precision electronic total station Leica TC 2003 was used in this research. The azimuth determination program was carried out over three evenings in the forward and reverse directions on concrete pillars with forced centering in 18 steps.
After the experiment, the result values of assessing the accuracy of azimuth determination have not exceeded 1ʺ, and the discrepancy between forward and reverse azimuths was 2.5ʺ. This means that the Leica TC 2003 total station is suitable for high-precision azimuth determination.},
author = {A.~I. Yakovlev and R.~I. Altunin and K.~K. Zhbanov and A.~V. Prokofiev},
doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.72.42-45},
issue = {72},
journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
keyword = {astronomical azimuth, total station, Leica TC 2003, Polar hour angle, observation program, astronomical station wagon},
pages = {42--45},
title = {Method for Determining the Astronomical Azimuth Using a High-Precision Electronic Total Station Leica TC 2003},
url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2211/},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
TI - Method for Determining the Astronomical Azimuth Using a High-Precision Electronic Total Station Leica TC 2003
AU - Yakovlev, A. I.
AU - Altunin, R. I.
AU - Zhbanov, K. K.
AU - Prokofiev, A. V.
PY - 2025
T2 - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS - 72
SP - 42
AB - To obtain high-precision astronomical azimuth, the following methods
can be proposed: determining the azimuth by the hour angle of
celestial bodies, from the observations of stars passing through the
vertical of a local object, and from the observation of stars in the
meridian. These astronomical methods are historically the first ones
and are still currently the most accurate and resource-intensive.
Their use requires several days of measurements and up to three
qualified specialists. These methods were designed and described for
the use with specific (now outdated) optical-mechanical equipment.
Today, such instruments have completely exhausted their resources,
their operational lifespan has expired, but the need for obtaining
astronomical azimuth remains relevant to this day. Thus, there is a
necessity to explore modern samples of topographic and geodetic
equipment for determining high-precision astronomical azimuth. The
aim of the work is to develop a methodology for determining high-
precision astronomical azimuth using the advanced modern
optoelectronic equipment. The astronomical azimuth was determined
using the hour angle of the Polar Star. A set of high-precision
electronic total station Leica TC 2003 was used in this research. The
azimuth determination program was carried out over three evenings in
the forward and reverse directions on concrete pillars with forced
centering in 18 steps. After the experiment, the result values of
assessing the accuracy of azimuth determination have not exceeded 1ʺ,
and the discrepancy between forward and reverse azimuths was 2.5ʺ.
This means that the Leica TC 2003 total station is suitable for high-
precision azimuth determination.
DO - 10.32876/ApplAstron.72.42-45
UR - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2211/
ER -