Abstract
TIMINGS of 40,000 lunar occultations of stars from 1943–1972 have recently been analysed to determine improvements to the Moon's orbital elements, and difference between the ephemeris (ET), universal (UT) and atomic (IAT) time scales. Full details are to be published elsewhere, but the analysis for the period for which the atomic time scale is available are of immediate interest. They can be used in conjunction with results of earlier analyses to give a clearer picture of variations of the rate of rotation of the Earth and to provide evidence that is relevant to whether the constant of gravitation, G, is variable.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Trans. Int. Astr. Un., 13 B, 49 (1968).
Brown, E. W., Tables of the Motion of the Moon (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1919).
Newcomb, S., Tables of the Motion of the Sun, Astr. Papers American Ephemeris, 6 (Washington, 1895).
Martin, C. F., thesis, Univ. Yale (1969).
Brouwer, D., Astron. J., 57, 125 (1952).
Astronomical Ephemeris 1971, vii (HM Stationery Office, 1969).
Hide, R., Nature, 222, 1055 (1969).
Hide, R., Comm. Earth Sci. Geophys., 2, 1 (1971).
Clemence, G. M., Astron. J., 53, 169 (1948).
Spencer Jones, H., Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 99, 541 (1939).
Van Flandern, T. C., Astron. J., 75, 657 (1970).
Oesterwinter, C., and Cohen, C. J., Celestial Mechanics, 5, 317 (1972).
Newton, R. R., Ancient Astronomical Observations and the Accelerations of the Earth and Moon (Johns Hopkins Press, 1970).
Stephenson, F. R., thesis, Univ. Newcastle upon Tyne (1972).
Williams, K. P., Indiana Univ. Publ., Sci. Series, 9 (1940).
Clemence, G. M., Astron. Papers Amer. Ephemeris, 11, 53 (1943).
Hoyle, F., Quart. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 13, 328 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MORRISON, L. Rotation of the Earth from AD 1663–1972 and the Constancy of G. Nature 241, 519–520 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/241519a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/241519a0
This article is cited by
-
Astronomical measurements and constraints on the variability of fundamental constants
The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review (2007)
-
Hypothesis of variable g and the secular accelerations of the Sun and the Moon
Earth, Moon, and Planets (1986)
-
An analysis of lunar occultations in the years 1955?1980 using the new lunar ephemeris ELP2000
Celestial Mechanics (1985)
-
Water level changes along the Norwegian coast
Marine Geophysical Researches (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
