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 2004-2008.

Preparation of the AE-2011 ephemerides is based on the following data:

• The fundamental ephemerides of the Sun, the Moon and major planets are calculated on the theory EPM2004 developed at IAA RAS. This theory present the movement of these objects with accuracy enough for the theoretical and practical applications. The differences between the theories EPM2004 and DE405/LE405 in common use developed at the JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA) are less on the order than the accuracy of the data published in AY for these bodies.
• In accordance with the IAU2000 resolution the parameters of the nutation in longitude and declination are calculated under the IAU2000_R06 nutation theory (Note of IERS Conventions Center, 16 June 2009).
• The account of precession was carried out in the Lieske method of parameterization with values of polynomial coefficients corresponding the new precession model P03 resulted in the report of Working group of IAU on precession and the ecliptic.
• Calculation the sidereal time is made with use “the Siderial Angle” and new expression for the equation of equinoxes accepted by “IERS Convention (2003)”, and P03 precession theory.
• The shift of average pole J2000.0 relative to the pole ICRS is taken into account at calculation of elements of the precession-nutation matrix.
• Calculing the stars ephemerides the fundamental catalog FK6 was used. The ephemerides of the stars which have not in this catalog are based on the catalog HIPPARCOS. Both catalogues are in ICRS. Calculating the corrections for orbital movement of double stars “Fourth catalog of orbits of visual binary stars” WH-4 was used.
• The ephemeris data of the Yearbook are given in the classical concept of equinox. According to the recommendation XXIV GA IAU (resolution B1.7) the data connected with the new Celestial Intermediate Reference System (CIRS), and elements of a matrix of transition from ICRS to the celestial intermediate origin CIO and true equator of date are given.

All ephemeris data are calculated by means of the PS BOOKA 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 2011” the calculation of the ephemeris data was carried out by following collaborators of the laboratory of astronomical yearbooks:

• the sidereal time – N.I. Glebova, M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the ephemerides of the geocentric coordinates of the Sun and Moon, the geocentric and heliocentric coordinates of the major planets, osculating elements of the planet orbits, the ephemerides of the position and velocity of the Earth in the barycentric frame, the elements of the precession matrix and of the nutation matrix, the terms by reductions – N.I. Glebova;
• the ephemerides of the Moon (coefficients of the Tchebyshov polynomials), the ephemerides for physical observations of the Moon, the phases of the Moon, perigee and apogee – N.I. Glebova;
• the seasons and precession values, the planetary configurations – N.I. Glebova;
• the data for the eclipses of the Sun and Moon – M.V. Lukashova;
• the data for the occultations of planets by the Moon – G.A. Kosmodamianskij;
• the ephemerides for physical observations of the Sun, planets and Saturn's rings – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the times of rise and set of the Sun and Moon – M.V. Lukashova;
• mean places of stars at J2000.0, the table of the corrections for the orbital motion of stars – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the mean places of stars on epoch of the year, the apparent places of the tenday and circumpolar stars – N.I. Glebova;
• the tables for altitudes and azimuths of Polaris and the tables for latitude determinations from observations of Polaris – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• Earth rotation angle, Equation of the Origins, the CIP parameters, matrix elements for conversion from ICRS to CIO and true equator of date – N.I. Glebova, M.L. Sveshnikov;

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

The explanation to the Yearbook is processed 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, G.A. Kosmodamianskij, M.V. Lukashova and M.L. Sveshnikov.

The Explanation in the T_EX 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”. The preparation of the edition of “The Astronomical Yearbook for 2011” 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://www.ipa.nw.ru/PAGE/EDITION/ENG/newe.htm

• the seasons values, coefficients of the Tchebyshov polynomials of the Moon ephemerides, the phases of the Moon, the planetary configurations, the data for the eclipses of the Sun and Moon (N.I.Glebova, M.V.Lukashova);
• the phenomena in system of Galilean satellites of Jupiter, the occultations of AY stars by the Moon for Russia (G.A.Kosmodamiansky, G.A.Netsvetaeva);
• the list of the observatories coordinates as appendix to Yearbook (M.V.Lukashova, M.L.Sveshnikov) are placed on a site.

WEB-master – N.I. Alehina.