Skip to main content
Physics LibreTexts

13.16: Topocentric-Geocentric Correction

  • Page ID
    15607
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    In section 13.1 I indicated two small (but not negligible) corrections that needed to be made, namely the \(∆T\) correction (which can be made at the very start of the calculation) and the light-time correction, which can be made as soon as the geocentric distances have been determined – after which it is necessary to recalculate the geocentric distances from the beginning! I did not actually make these corrections in our numerical example, but I indicated how to do them.

    There is another small correction that needs to be made. The diameter of Earth subtends an angle of \(17".6\) at \(1 \ \text{au}\), so the observed position of an asteroid depends appreciably on where it is observed from on Earth’s surface. Observations are, of course, reported as topocentric – i.e. from the place (\(τοπος\)) where the observer was situated. They must be corrected by the computer to geocentric positions – but of course that can’t be done until the distances are known. As soon as the distances are known, the light-time and the topocentric-geocentric corrections can be made. Then, of course, one has to return to the beginning and recompute the distances – possibly more than once until convergence is reached. This section shows how to make the topocentric-geocentric correction.

    We have used the notation \(\mathfrak{x, y , z}\) for geocentric coordinates, and I shall use \(\mathfrak{x^\prime , \ y^\prime , \ z^\prime}\) for topocentric coordinates. In figure \(\text{XIII.3}\) I show Earth from a point in the equatorial plane, and from above the north pole. The radius of Earth is \(R\), and the radius of a small circle of latitude \(\phi\) (where the observer is situated) is \(R \cos \phi\). The \(\mathfrak{x}\)- and \(\mathfrak{x}^\prime -\) axes are directed towards the first point of Aries, \(\Upsilon\).

    It should be evident from the figure that the corrections are given by

    \[\mathfrak{x}^\prime = \mathfrak{x} - R \cos \phi \cos \text{LST}, \label{13.16.1} \tag{13.16.1}\]

    \[\mathfrak{y}^\prime = \mathfrak{y} - R \cos \phi \sin \text{LST} \label{13.16.2} \tag{13.16.2}\]

    and \[\mathfrak{z}^\prime = \mathfrak{z} - R \sin \phi . \label{13.16.3} \tag{13.16.3}\]

    Any observer who submits observations to the Minor Planet Center is assigned an Observatory Code, a three-digit number. This code not only identifies the observer, but, associated with the Observatory Code, the Minor Planet Center keeps a record of the quantities \(R \cos \phi\) and \(R \sin \phi\) in \(\text{AU}\). These quantities, in the notation employed by the \(\text{MPC}\), are referred to as \(−∆_{xy}\) and \(−∆_{z}\) respectively. They are unique to each observing site.

    Figure 13.3 copy.png

    Figure 13.3.1 copy.png
    \(\text{FIGURE XIII.3}\)


    13.16: Topocentric-Geocentric Correction is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.