I. S. Izmailov

Astrometric CCD observations of visual double stars at the Pulkovo Observatory

We present the results of 3489 astrometric observations for 361 visual double stars performed in 2003–2007 with the 26-inch refractor of the Pulkovo Observatory. The angular separations between the components (ρ) and the position angles (θ) are given. The errors in these quantities are, on average, 0″.009 for ρ and 0°.40/ρ for θ, where ρ is the separation in arcseconds.

Trigonometric parallaxes of 29 stars with large proper motions

While implementing the first stage of the Pulkovo program of research on stars with large proper motions, we determined the trigonometric parallaxes of 29 stars (12m < V < 16m) based on CCD observations with a 26-inch refractor. The mean standard error was 3.7 mas. Comparison of the Pulkovo parallaxes with those obtained at the Observatory of the Yale University and the US Naval Observatory (USNO) has shown that the parallax differences (Pulkovo-Yale/USNO) lie within the limits of their measurement errors in an overwhelming majority of cases. On average, they are −0.6 ± 1.0 mas. No systematic dependences on stellar distance, magnitude, and color in this set of differences have been found. Our comparisons show that the observing and data reduction techniques used in the Pulkovo program of research on fast stars allow highly accurate trigonometric parallaxes of these objects to be obtained. All program stars are within 50 pc of the Sun; most of them belong to the immediate solar neighborhood (D < 25 pc). For two stars (J0522+3814 and J1202+3636), the trigonometric parallaxes have been determined for the first time.

Astrometric results of observations at russian observatories of mutual occultations and eclipses of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites in 2009

In 2009, in five Russian observatories photometric observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites during their mutual occultations and eclipses were carried out. Based on these observations, an original method was used to ascertain astrometric results such as the difference between the coordinates of pairs of satellites. Fifty-three phenomena were successfully observed. A total of 94 light curves of satellites were measured. The error in the coordinates of satellites due to random errors in photometry, calculated on all data obtained, was 0.041″ in right ascension and 0.046″ in declination. The discrepancies between the theory and observations in these coordinates was found to be 0.060″ and 0.057″, respectively. The results were uploaded to the common database for all observations of natural satellites of planets at the Natural Satellites Data Center (NSDC), which is available online at http://www.sai.msu.ru/neb/nss/index.htm. For the first time in the practice of photometric observations of satellites in epochs of mutual occultations and eclipses a new method of observation was tested, which eliminates from astrometric results the major systematic errors caused by an inaccurate account of the background level. The tests were conducted in the Terskol Observatory and the observatory of the Crimean laboratory of the Sternberg State Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University. The application of the new method showed that the elimination of the background level at these observatories was carried out correctly.

Astrometric Study of the Relative Motion of Three Stars with Possible Invisible Companions Based on Homogeneous Series Obtained at Pulkovo with a 26-Inch Refractor

We investigate the relative motion of three stars, ADS 7446, 9346, and 9701, based on long-term observations with the Pulkovo 26-inch refractor. The relative motion of all three stars shows a perturbation that could be produced by the gravitational influence of an invisible companion. For ADS 7446, we have determined the orbit of the photocenter with a period of 7.9 yr; the mass of the companion is more than 0.4M⊙. For ADS 9346, we have determined the radial velocities of the components: −14.60 km s−1 for A and −13.94 km s−1 for B. For ADS 9346 and 9701, we have determined the dynamical parallaxes, 24 and 20 mas, respectively, which are larger than those in the Hipparcos catalog by 5 mas, and calculated the orbits by the apparent motion parameter (AMP) method. The new orbit of ADS 9346 is: a = 5″.2, P = 2035 yr, and e = 0.46 at the system’s mass M = 2.5M⊙. The new orbits of ADS 9701 are: (a = 2″.9, P = 829 yr, e = 0.54, M = 4.3M⊙) and (a = 3″.8, P = 1157 yr, e = 0.53, M = 5.0M⊙).

Astrometric Observations of the Second, Third, and Fourth Satellites of Uranus

The results of astrometric observations of three Uranian satellites, performed at the Ka-Dar observatory from August to October 2005, are presented. In total, 20 satellite positions in the equatorial frame and 14 “satellite minus satellite” relative positions were obtained.

New astrometric reduction of old photographic observations of Saturn’s moons based on digitizing of astronegatives

The paper presents new results of the reduction of photographic observations made at the Pulkovo Observatory in 1972–1974 using digitized photographic plates of Saturn’s moons obtained by the 26-inch refractor and normal astrograph. Lists of exact positions of 2–6th and 8th moons and Saturn itself are obtained. The results of the new reduction are stored in the Pulkovo database on the bodies of the solar system and are available online at www.puldb.ru. The comparison of the results of the old and new reductions with the latest ephemeris of Saturn’s moons has shown that the positioning accuracy of the moons of Saturn has increased approximately twofold. A conclusion on the feasibility of reprocessing old observations using the new method is made.

Photographic observations of visual double stars at Pulkovo: Digitization, measurement, and calibration

We present the results of determining the relative positions of 359 pairs of stars. More than 6000 photographic plates were obtained in 1960–2007 at the 26-inch refractor of the Pulkovo Observatory. The plates have been digitized with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera and a long-focus Jupiter 21M lens; the scalewas 21 μm/pixel. Themeasurements have been calibrated using a template digitized with the Belgian high-precision ROB Digitizer. The results have been thoroughly investigated for systematic errors. We have studied the scale of the 26-inch refractor and revealed its temperature and time dependences. The application of a new digitization, measurement, and calibration technique has allowed the accuracy to be increased compared to the past measurements. The single-exposure measurement accuracy is within the range from 2 to 70 mas, on average, 28 mas in both coordinates. The errors of the yearly mean positions are, on average, 8.7 mas in the angular separation and 0.05◦. in the position angle.

Astrometric observations of satellites of Uranus using a 26-inch refractor in 2007–2011

This paper reports CCD observations of Uranus and its main satellites using a 26-inch refractor at the Pulkovo Observatory in 2007–2011. These are 2450 CCD frames with images of Uranus and its four main satellites, i.e., Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. The field of view of the FLI Proline 9000 CCD camera is 12′ × 12′, which allows us to obtain stars and perform astrometric reduction by Turner’s method to determine the satellites’ equatorial coordinates. UCAC2 is used as a reference catalogue. The equatorial coordinates are compared with the GUST 06 theory. The average accuracy of normal places is 0.030″–0.040″ in right ascension and declination. The positions of the satellites and their theoretical uranocentric coordinates by GUST 06 are used to calculate the equatorial coordinates of Uranus. The positions of Uranus are compared with the INPOP10 planetary theory. The paper also presents the satellites’ differential coordinates relative to one another.

Astrometric observations of major satellites of Saturn with a 26-inch refractor

The results of observations of Saturn and its satellites with the 26-inch refractor at Pulkovo are presented. Over the observing period from January 2008 until May 2009, results were found from more than 5000 CCD frames suitable for measurement. On the basis of these frames, 183 positions of major satellites of Saturn (with the exception of Mimas) were obtained. The astrometric reduction was based on the Turner method, with the use of the UCAC2 catalog as a reference. The obtained equatorial coordinates of satellites were compared with the TASS 1.7 theory, and results of comparison are presented. The accuracy of observed positions is 0.05″ on average. Positions of Saturn, calculated on the basis of positions of satellites and their theoretical saturnocentric coordinates according to the TASS 1.7, and the differential coordinates of satellites relative to each other, are also given.

Astrometric studies of the series of photographic and CCD observations of the Saturnian system with the 26-inch Pulkovo refractor in 1995-2007

The results of the reduction, investigation, and comparison of the photographic observations of the major Saturnian satellites and CCD observations with an ST6 CCD camera obtained at the 264nch Pulkovo refractor in 1995–2007 are presented. A comparison of the observational results with the TASS 1.7 theory of motion of the Saturnian satellites has served as the basis for investigating and comparing the series of observations. The period-averaged (O-C) residuals and observational errors have been calculated. A comparison of the series of CCD and photographic observations has shown the same external accuracy of the observations at a higher internal accuracy of the CCD observations than that of the photographic ones. A comparison of the Pulkovo results with those of other authors has shown them to be close in accuracy. The accuracy of the theory has been estimated by comparing simultaneous (on the same night) CCD and photographic observations. The errors of the observations and the theory have been found from this comparison to be the following: 0.081“ and 0.067” for the observations and 0.077“ and 0.115” for the theory (inxandy, respectively). An analysis of the dependence of (O-C)x,y for three satellites (the sixth, seventh, and eighth) on the satellite positions in Saturn-centered orbits has revealed systemat ic deviations for the seventh satellite in both coordinates. The positions of Saturn have been determined from satellite observations without measuring its images on photographic plates with accuracies of 0.121“ and 0.105” in right ascension and declination, respectively.