Astronomical units and constants in the general relativity framework

Victor A. Brumberg, Pierre Bretagnon, Bernard Guinot

Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 64(3), 231-242 (1996)

Keywords: Astronomical units, astronomical constants, Earth's rotation, reference systems, general relativity

Abstract

An attempt is made to analyze the existing system of astronomical constants within the general relativity theory (GRT) framework. The general conclusion is that, to avoid any confusion in the GRT compatible interpretation of units and constants, one should give precisely, with full post-Newtonian accuracy, the expressions of the metric forms describing the astronomical barycentric and geocentric reference systems used, for example, in IERS analysis of observations.