Lecture Description
Fundamental astronomy deals with the definition and realisation of reference systems in the sky and on Earth as well as the determination of their positions (location, orientation), movements and relative transformations. These reference systems are recognised by objects in the sky and on Earth. Depending on the choice of objects, we speak of fundamental or inertial reference systems. In addition to the definition of reference systems, the determination of the positions and attitude changes (movements) of objects in the sky and on Earth in relation to such systems is a central task of fundamental astronomy. Understood as events in four-dimensional space-time, these positions include both the directions of objects with respect to the reference system under consideration and their distances with respect to the origin of the coordinates.
The lecture Fundamental Astronomy I deals with the theoretical and practical realization of reference frames to support geodetic and astrometric applications in particular for measuring positions and movement of objects in the sky and on Earth. The focus is on near-Earth technologies, especially targeting the monitoring of the system Earth with fundamental astronomical methods.
The lecture provides the basis for the follow-up lecture Fundamental Astronomie II.
