Lecture Description
Fundamental astronomy is concerned with the definition and realization of reference systems in the sky and on Earth, as well as with the determination of their positions (location and orientation), motions, and mutual transformations. These reference systems are realized by objects in the sky and on Earth; depending on the choice of objects, they are referred to as fundamental or inertial reference systems. In addition to defining reference systems, a central task of fundamental astronomy is the determination of the positions and positional changes (motions) of objects in the sky and on Earth with respect to these systems.When interpreted as events in four-dimensional spacetime, such positions include both the directions of objects relative to the reference system under consideration and their distances with respect to the coordinate origin. The lecture Fundamental Astronomy I addresses the theoretical and practical foundations of the realization of reference systems, as well as geodetic and astrometric applications of measuring positions and motions of objects in the sky and on Earth. Particular emphasis is placed on the long-term monitoring of the Earth system using methods of fundamental astronomy.
