They are selected from the messages we received.
All astronomers are welcome to make other suggestions to the Working Group.
- Astrometric observations of the natural planetary satellites for dynamical purpose (program implying several observatories coordinated by IMCCE and the IAU working group on Satellites)
- Astrometric observations of asteroids and Pluto for dynamical goals and in particular for mass determinations and search for satellites of asteroids.
- Photometry for astrometry, campaign of observations of the mutual phenomena of the galillean satellites of Jupiter in 2002-2003 (international network coordinated by IMCCE)
- Observations of occultations of stars by solar system bodies (international network of observers)- Definition and Observation of the Sun radius, comparison with Space measurements to know the origin of the apparent variations of this radius.- Densification of the optical reference frame in declination zone -3 to 30 deg.
- Special attention to the new NEOs. Searching for new TNOs.
- Reduction or re-reduction of photographic plates in order to get positions and proper motions before launching of new space missions.- Proper motion of globular clusters, open clusters and young stars with the purpose to establish the possible connection between star formation and trajectories of molecular clouds across the galactic disk.
- Observation of relative proper motions and radial velocities in open clusters for dynamical studies.
- Extend the HIPPARCOS/Tycho catalogs to the fainter objects (V<15) present in very crowded fields.- Observation of radiosource optical counterparts for connecting optical and radio reference frames.
- Astrometric observations for the determination of orbits and parallaxes for binaries needed for mass estimates.
- Determination of parallaxes for M-dwarfs in the solar neighborhood. Candidates could be selected from their high proper motions and/or from DENIS (and other) surveys.
- Observations of parallaxes of very faint stars (V > 15) are of great importance. In this case, the observations will keep their relevance until GAIA results will be available.
- Detection of very close double stars by speckle interferometry.- Densification of reference frame in order to provide an input catalog for the FAME space mission
- Double stars at wider separations and large delta-m with no modern observations. The southern hemisphere has been neglected and is very poorly observed at all separations and magnitudes.
- Radial velocities of astrometrically well observed stars (e.g. Hipparcos stars)
- Photometry of clusters and variable stars.
New proposals received in the last moment from:
Alexandre Humberto Andrei:
"…mostly tied with the "radio" aspect of the question of reconciliation of optical and radio frames":
a) the astrometric reduction of the many star radio maps taken at different non-astrometric projects. For example, although many of such VLA maps were taken at relatively low resolution, they do can provide a lot of useful information on the coincidence between the radio and optical centroids. Add to it that, since the precision is always much better than 1arcsec, a systematic work of this type can give results for example for proper motion studies.
b) the astrometric use of MERLIN fields prepared for HST observations.
c) low precision or limited time program for radio observation of radio-stars, aiming to identify those with favorable signal to noise ratio or even to identify their patterns of radio variability.
Wim Brouw:
a) monitoring of pulsars. If continuous monitoring of a set of pulsars could be arranged, timing information could be improved by excluding glitches from the data. However, continuity is essential. At the EAS meeting JENAM it could be discussed that with the director of Jodrell Bank, Andrew Lyne, who is much more knowledgeable, and could easily answer if this is indeed a viable option.
b) geodetic related VLBI. Again, I have no real idea how at the moment especially the European geodetic VLBI is organized, and if VLBI is still relevant beyond determining a few standard points regularly with high precision, with the gaps being filled in by other means (GPS, laser ranging). It could be discussed the possibility of having a small, concentrated, European geodetic trial with e.g. the director of the German Geodetic Service: the most active in Europe.