International Coordination of Planetary Coordinate System Recommendations and the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements

Abstract. Our goal is to request input from the lunar and planetary community regarding issues of planetary coordinate systems and cartography standards. We begin with an overview of the work of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements. We briefly describe the operations and membership of the Working Group, some of the various uses of the recommendations it makes, our most recent (2018) published report and the recommendations therein, and the outlook for our next such report. We then consider several issues and questions regarding the future of the Working Group and regarding planetary cartography and planetary data spatial infrastructure in general. This includes possible near-term projects, how we and others might collect and consider community input and includes some ideas regarding possible outcomes or future work that will need to be addressed by the Working Group or other organizations.

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2.2. Working Group 2: Conceptual Definitions of Reference Coordinate Systems for Earth Dynamics

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100050867 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 21-26

Keyword(s):

Coordinate System ◽

Working Group ◽

General Character ◽

Coordinate Systems ◽

Reference Coordinate System ◽

Group 2 ◽

Definition Of ◽

Earth Dynamics

An ideal definition of a reference coordinate system should meet the following general requirements:1. It should be as conceptually simple as possible, so its philosophy is well understood by the users.2. It should imply as few physical assumptions as possible. Wherever they are necessary, such assumptions should be of a very general character and, in particular, they should not be dependent upon astronomical and geophysical detailed theories.3. It should suggest a materialization that is dynamically stable and is accessible to observations with the required accuracy.

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Report of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites: 1982

Celestial Mechanics ◽

10.1007/bf01228525 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 309-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

M. E. Davies ◽

V. K. Abalakin ◽

J. H. Lieske ◽

P. K. Seidelmann ◽

A. T. Sinclair ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Group ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Planets And Satellites

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Report of the IAU/IAG/COSPAR Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites: 1985

Celestial Mechanics ◽

10.1007/bf01232291 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 103-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

M. E. Davies ◽

V. K. Abalakin ◽

M. Bursa ◽

T. Lederle ◽

J. H. Lieske ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Group ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Planets And Satellites

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DIVISION I-III / WORKING GROUP CARTOGRAPHIC COORDINATES AND ROTATIONAL ELEMENTS

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921308025325 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 4 (T27A) ◽

pp. 68-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brent A. Archinal ◽

P. Kenneth Seidelmann ◽

Michael F. A'Hearn ◽

Edward L. Bowell ◽

Albert R. Conrad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Working Group ◽

Business Meeting ◽

Division I ◽

General Assembly ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Solar System Bodies

The IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates & Rotational Elements published its (2006) triennial report containing current recommendations for models for solar system bodies (Seidelmann et al. 2007). P. Kenneth Seidelmann stepped down as chairperson and B. A. Archinal was elected chairperson at the Working Group business meeting that took place at the IAU XXVI General Assembly in Prague in 2006.

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Report of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites

Celestial Mechanics ◽

10.1007/bf01229508 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 205-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

M. E. Davies ◽

V. K. Abalakin ◽

C. A. Cross ◽

R. L. Duncombe ◽

H. Masursky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Group ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Planets And Satellites

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Possible Features of IAU Standards

Highlights of Astronomy ◽

10.1017/s1539299600008881 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 155-159

Author(s):

P. K. Seidelmann

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Working Group ◽

The Past ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Planets And Satellites ◽

Standard Values ◽

Best Estimates

In the past, the IAU has adopted standard values for some constants, primarily for use with solar system ephemerides. The constants adopted in 1976 were specifically adjusted to provide internal consistency. In each case, when constants have been adopted, the changes have reflected accuracy improvements, and the purpose has been to encourage the accomplishment of better science.Over the past 12 years, the Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates has issued triennial reports giving the best values for the sizes and rotations for the planets and satellites. This working group now is an IAU/IAG/COSPAR working group reflecting the different organizations that have recognized the benefits of this group. This is an example of a properly functioning working group, which provides the best values on a regular basis. The IUGG also provides best estimates triennially for values of interest in geodesy and geodynamics.

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Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921306004492 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 1 (T26A) ◽

pp. 181-181

Author(s):

Kennet P. Seidelman ◽

M.F. A'HEARN ◽

D.P. CRUIKSHANK ◽

J.L. HILTON ◽

H.U. KELLER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Celestial Mechanics ◽

Rotation Rate ◽

Working Group ◽

Web Site ◽

Polar Axis ◽

The Sun ◽

Coordinate Systems ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Dynamical Astronomy ◽

The Mean

The 2003 report of the IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements has appeared in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy(2005)volume 91, part 3–4, pages 203–215. The Working Group continues to maintain and update the information for cartographic coordinates and rotational elements for the Sun, Moon, planets, satellites, asteroids, and comets. A report is published treannually. A web site is maintained at http://extranet.astrogeology.wr.usgs.gov/Projects/WGCCRE with the up-to-date information. It is anticipated that the next report will include updates for Saturn (rotation rate) and all of the Saturnian moons, additions for the newly visited comets and asteroids, and a clarification of the Moon's coordinate systems (the mean Earth/polar axis system needs to be defined more precisely).

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Report of the IAU/IAG/COSPAR working group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements of the planets and satellites: 1991

Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy ◽

10.1007/bf00051818 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 377-397 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

M. E. Dames ◽

V. K. Abalakin ◽

A. Brahic ◽

M. Bursa ◽

B. H. CHovitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Group ◽

Cartographic Coordinates ◽

Planets And Satellites

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2.3. Working Group 3: Practical Realization of the Reference Coordinate Systems

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100050879 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 27-38

Keyword(s):

Coordinate System ◽

Working Group ◽

Fundamental Constants ◽

Practical Realization ◽

Coordinate Systems ◽

Reference Coordinate System ◽

Measuring Techniques ◽

Group 3 ◽

Computational Procedures ◽

Better Than

For a reference coordinate system to be useful to Blarth dynamics it must clearly display the phenomena of interest in a systematic and unambiguous way, free of detailed assumptions. For a clear display, it is absolutely essential that the system be realized to an accuracy substantially better than has been obtained heretofore. This demands not only improved measuring techniques and instruments, but also precise specification of computational procedures, assumptions, fundamental constants, etc., and meticulous implementation.

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