SVY 308 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY (3,0)

BY

Dr. HAMID-MOSAKU, Adekunle Isa

ahmaai@yahoo.com, blessedsit@gmail.com ahamidmosaku@unilag.edu.ng;
+2349081675161

2015/2016 Session
June – September 2016

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics
University of Lagos
Akoka
Lagos
Nigeria
 COURSE CONTENT
• Coordinate systems and their variations: precession, nutation,
polar motion and proper motion.
• Reduction of star positions.
• Time systems: sidereal, universal, ephemeris and atomic, Time
conversions and variations.
• Determination of first and second order astronomic positions and
azimuths: Theory, instrumentation, computation and analysis of
results.
• Reduction of observations.
• Geodetic uses of astronomic position.
• Astrogeodetic geoids.

• Prerequisite: SVY 201, SVY202, PHS 207, PHS 208, SVY307/723:

Spherical and Field Astronomy, Principle of Surveying (SVY701)
 COURSE CONTENT

• L1-Coordinate systems and their variations: precession, nutation, polar

motion and proper motion.
• L2-Reduction of star positions.
• L3-Time systems: sidereal, universal, ephemeris and atomic, Time
conversions and variations.
• L4-Determination of first and second order astronomic positions and
azimuths: Theory, instrumentation, computation and analysis of results.
• L5-Reduction of observations.
• L6-Geodetic uses of astronomic position.
• L7-Astrogeodetic geoids.

• Prerequisite: SVY 201, SVY202, PHS 207, PHS 208, SVY307/723: Spherical
and Field Astronomy, Principle of Surveying (SVY701)
 COURSE MATERIALS COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• Courses Notes: Lectures
Wiggio Platform for Information
Dr. I.A. Hamid-Mosaku_PPT Lecture materials for SVY308-
722; No Assessment Number % each % total
.
• Main Text: book 1 Assignments 2 5% 10
1] Thomson, D. B. (1981). Introduction to Geodetic Astronomy-
LN49, University of New Brunswick, Canada; 2 Quizzes 2 5% 10
• Other References: 3 Lab Exercises 3 1.67% 5
1] The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979)
2] http://sci.fgt.bme.hu/gtoth/ge/geodesy3.pdf 4 Project 1 5% 5
3]
http://elib.mi.sanu.ac.rs/files/journals/pda/6/broj6_clanak23.p 5 Reviews of
df Technical papers 1 5% 5
4] and periodicals
https://www.fig.net/resources/proceedings/fig_proceedings/fig200
6/papers/ps05_06/ps05_06_05_yilmaz_karaali_0554.pdf 6 Presentation 1 5% 5
5] http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/earth-atmospheric-and-planetary-
sciences/12-215-modern-navigation-fall-2006/lecture-notes/ 7 Test 1 1 20% 20
6] Yan Huang (). Csci6330 Spatial Database Management,
8 Final Exam 1 40% 40
(Lecture ppt Slides). (email: huangyan@unt.edu;
http://www.cs.unt.edu/~huangyan/6330)
Overall Total 100
9 Attendance 65-75%
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WLfxoKHQS2D04Q_A
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L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, GEODETIC ASTRONOMY

NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

• RECALL ASTRONOMY AND SVY 307

The scientific study of the universe beyond
the earth, especially the observation,
calculation, and theoretical interpretation of Historically,
the positions, dimensions, distribution, the fundamental concepts and basic
motion, composition, and evolution of
principles of "spherical astronomy",
celestial bodies and phenomena (Morris,
1975; Thomson, 1981). which is the basis for geodetic
astronomy, were developed
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY principally by the Greeks, and were
Is the art and science for determining, by
well established by the 2nd century
astronomical observations, the positions of A.D. (Thomson, 1981).
points on the earth and the azimuths of the
geodetic lines connecting such points
(Mueller, 1969; Thomson, 1981).
Other terms used for it in Surveying are:
Practical Astronomy; or
Positional Astronomy.
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION,
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY (The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979))
branch of practical astronomy,
closely related to geodesy and
cartography.
It studies the theory and methods of
determining the latitude Φ and the
longitude λ of a place as well as the
azimuth a of the direction to a
terrestrial object and the local
sidereal time s from astronomical
observations made during geodetic
and cartographic work.
Since these observations are made in
the field, geodetic astronomy is often
called field astronomy.
The point on the earth’s surface for
which the latitude, longitude, and
azimuth are determined by
astronomical observation is called the
astronomical point.
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
Geodetic astronomy consists in the study
of:
(1) portable astronomical instruments,
(2) the theory of observation of
celestial bodies and methods of
determining Φ, λ, a, and s, and
(3) the methods of processing the data
obtained from astronomical
observations.
Small, portable astronomical instruments
are used in geodetic astronomy; they
make it possible to measure the zenith
distance and the directions toward
celestial bodies and also the horizontal
angles between the different directions.
The primary instruments used are a
theodolite, a field chronometer, and a
radio receiver for receiving time
signals.
(The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979))
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION,
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
RECALL THE IMPORTANCE OF SPHERICAL ASTRONOMY
Why is Spherical Astonomy important to Surveying
and Geoinformation?
It is a science and it is an Art == as would be
seen during the course of this lectures and labs
Allows us (geomaticians) to determine:
absolute locations of any points
OR
Absolute location and direction of any line on
the earth surface;
Therefore, its all about locations, locations, and
locations problems!!!
As such,
Locations are very important to us;
Locations are determined by Latitudes and
Longitudes of points on the globe;
Hence, their determinations and computations
should be of important too;
These are based on Astronomical and
Trigonometric Principles;
(ix) geodetic astronomy is useful for the
determination of the origin
and orientation of independent surveys in remote
regions;
(x) geodetic astronomy is essential for the
demarcation of astronomically defined boundaries.
IMPORTANCE OF
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
IMPORTANCE OF GEODETIC ASTRONOMY (THOMPSIN,
1981)
(i) a knowledge of celestial coordinate systems,
transformations amongst them, and variations in each
of them;
(ii) celestial coordinate systems define the "linkll
between satellite and terrestrial coordinate systems;
(iii) the concepts of time for geodetic purposes are
developed;
(iv) tidal studies require a knowledge of geodetic
astronomy;
(v) when dealing with new technologies (e.g. inertial
survey systems) an understanding of the local
astronomic coordinate system is essential;
(vi) astronomic coordinates of terrain points, which are
expressed in a "natural" coordinate system, are
important when studying 3-D terrestrial networks;
(vii) astronomically determined azimuths provide
orientation for terrestrial networks;
(viii) the determination of astrogeodetic deflections of
the vertical are useful for geoid determination, which in
turn may be required for the rigorous treatment of
terrestrial observations such as distances, directions,
and angles;

L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION,
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION Hence,
A1.
BASIC DEFINITIONS IN GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
A FIGURE OF THE EARTH
Considered as a plane surface for small areas;
A2.
Historically:
Flat
With advances in theories used in explaining the figure
of the earth, it was considered to be Round;
Later, it is considered to be Spherical;
And lately, it is considered to be Ellipsoidal (with
experiment that showed that EQUAL length of an equal
were measured at two different latitudes (i.e. lower and
upper latitudes);
As Geoinformatians, three different surfaces
when referring to the figure of the earth:
(i) the terrain;
(ii) an ellipsoid, and
(iii) the geoid.
NB:
The physical surface of the earth is one that is
extremely difficult to model analytically;
Thus, it is common practice to do survey
computations on a less complex and
modelable surface.
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
BASIC DEFINITIONS
TERRAIN
Considered as that surface on or from
which all terrestrially based observations
are made.
ELLIPSOID
The most common figure of the earth in use,
since it best approximates the earth's size
and shape is a BIAXIAL ELLIPSOID (because
of two axes);
Ellipsoid is the figure generated by rotating
an ellipse about the semi-minor axis (Figure
1-1);
NB: if R = radius and C is the curvature =
1/R; then C for spheres will be constant,
while for ellipsoids varies;
Also, an Ellipse is the locus of points, the
sum of whose distances from two fixed
points (called foci) of the plane is constant;
this constant is required to be greater than
the distance between the foci.
The Ellipsoid is a purely a mathematical
figure, defined by the parameters a (semi-
major axis) b (semi-minor axis) or a and f
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
BASIC DEFINITIONS IN GEODETIC ASTRONOMY

GEOMETRY OF AN ELLIPSE
𝑖. 𝑃𝐹 + 𝑃𝐹 ′ =
2𝑎 (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹 ′ 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑖
𝑎−𝑏
𝑖𝑖. 𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓 =
𝑎
𝑎2 −𝑏2
𝑖𝑖𝑖. 𝐸𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑒 : 𝑒 2 = =
𝑎2
2𝑓 − 𝑓 2
2
𝑖𝑣. 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑒 ′ : 𝑒 ′ =
𝑎2 −𝑏2
𝑏2
𝑣. 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝐸𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝛼 : (Figure 1-1)
𝑏
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝛼 = This figure is commonly referred to as a
𝑎
𝑣𝑖. 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒: ”𝑎 and "𝑓", "reference ellipsoid", but one should note
that there are many of these for the whole
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 earth or parts thereof.
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
BASIC DEFINITIONS IN GEODETIC ASTRONOMY

CURVILINEAR GEODETIC COORDINATES (𝝓, 𝝀, and h)

The use of a biaxial ellipsoid gives rise to the

use of curvilinear geodetic coordinates - 𝝓
(latitude), 𝝀 (longitude) ,and h (ellipsoidal
height) (Figure 1-2).

Conventional orientation is to have parallelism

of the tertiary (Z) axis with the mean rotation
axis of the earth, and parallelism of the
primary (X) axis with the plane of the
Greenwich Mean Astronomic Meridian.

(Figure 1-2).
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
BASIC DEFINITIONS IN GEODETIC ASTRONOMY (THOMSON,
1981)

A3. EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES

They are of different types for the earth; in fact,

infinite in number;
They can be represented mathematically;
They account for the physical properties of the
earth such as mass, mass distribution, and
rotation, and are "real" or physical surfaces of
the earth; (Figure 1-3): Orthometric Height
The common equipotential surface used is the
geoid, defined as [Mueller, 1969] "that
equipotential surface that most nearly
coincides with the undisturbed mean surface
of the oceans“;
Associated with these equipotential surfaces is
the plumbline (Figure 1-3);
It is a line of force that is everywhere normal to
the equipotential surfaces; thus, it is a spatial
curve. (Figure 1-5)
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
DEFINITIONS OF SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES IN
GEODETIC (THOMSON, 1981)
We now turn to definitions of some fundamental quantities
in geodetic astronomy namely, the astronomic latitude
(𝚽), astronomic longitude (𝚲), and orthometric height (H);
These quantities are sometimes referred to as "natural"
coordinates, since, by definition, they are given in terms
of the “real” (physical) properties of the earth;

ASTRONOMICAL LATITUDE ( 𝚽 ) is defined as the angle

between the astronomic normal (gravity vertical)
(tangent to the plumb1ine at the point of interest) and the
plane of the instantaneous equator measured in the
astronomic meridian plane (Figure 1-4); (Figure 1-4)
ASTRONOMICAL LONGITUDE (𝚲) is the angle between the
Greenwich Mean Astronomic Meridian and the
astronomic meridian plane measured in the plane of the
instantaneous equator (Figure 1-4);
ORTHOMETRIC HEIGHT (H)
is the height of the point of interest above the geoid,
measured along the plumbline, as obtained from spirit
leveling and en-route gravity observations (Figure 1-3).
Finally, after some reductions of 𝚽 and 𝚲 for polar motion
and plumb line curvature, one obtains the "reduced"
astronomic coordinates (𝚽, 𝚲, H) referring to the geoid
and the mean rotation axis of the earth (Figure 1-3)
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEODETIC AND ASTRONOMIC
COORDINATES (THOMSON, 1981) (Figure 1-5)

This is an important step for surveyors;

Observations are made in the natural system;
Astronomic coordinates are expressed in the same
natural system;
Therefore, to use this information for computations in
a geodetic system, the relationships must be known;

ASTRO-GEODETIC (RELATIVE) DEFLECTION OF THE

VERTICAL (𝜽) at a point is the angle between the
astronomic normal at that point and the normal to
the reference ellipsoid at the corresponding point
(the point may be on the terrain (at) or on the
geoid{s ) (Figure 1-5);
𝜽 is normally split into two components, 𝝃 - meridian
and 𝜼 - prime vertical (Figure 1-6);
Mathematically, the components are given by
𝛏 = 𝚽 − 𝝓, (1-1)
𝜼 = (𝚲 − 𝝀) cos 𝝓 (1-2)

(Figure 1-6)
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEODETIC AND ASTRONOMIC
COORDINATES (THOMSON, 1981)

GEODETIC HEIGHT (N) is the distance between the

geoid and a reference ellipsoid, measured along
an ellipsoidal normal (Figure 1-5).
Mathematically, N is given by (with an error of less
than 1mm) [Heiskanen and Moritz, 1967]: (Figure 1-5)

𝑵 = 𝒉 − 𝑯, (1-3)
(Figure 1-7:
GEODETIC AZIMUTH ( 𝜶 ) on the surface of a Geodetic
reference ellipsoid, is the clockwise angle from Azimuth)
north between the geodetic meridian of i and the
tangent to the ellipsoidal surface curve of shortest
distance (the geodesic) between i and j (Figure 1-
7);
ASTRONOMIC AZIMUTH (A)
The astronomic azimuth (A) is the angle between
the astronomic meridian plane of i and the (Figure 1-6):
astronomic normal plane of i through j (Figure 1-8), Astronomic
measured clockwise from north; Azimuth
 GEODETIC ASTRONOMY
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, BASIC DEFINITIONS
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEODETIC AND ASTRONOMIC
COORDINATES (THOMSON, 1981)

ASTRONOMIC AZIMUTH (A) CONTINUES

The relationship between these A and 𝜶 is given by

the Laplace Azimuth equation [e.g. Heiskanen and
Moritz~ 1967] (Figure 1-5)

(𝑨 − 𝜶) = 𝜼𝒕𝒂𝒏𝝓 + (𝝃𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶 − 𝜼𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜶) cot 𝒛, (1-4)

in which z is the zenith distance. Note that the

geodetic azimuth, a, must also be corrected for the
height of target (skew-normal) and normal section -
geodesic separation.

(Figure 1-7: Geodetic Azimuth)

Paper Review and Presentation (Huang, 2015)
Core research skills of literature analysis, innovation, evaluation of new
ideas, and communication are emphasized via homework assignments and
projects.
Each student is expected to write a critique of TWO paper P and Q
Present their overview in the class
This homework will help us learn literature analysis skills towards starting a
thesis or to simply understand a research paper.
Paper analysis and presentation 30%

17
Steps for Paper Review and Presentation
A1. Identify the paper P and Q you would present. Make a home page for the course assignment.
Identify paper R and S you would like to lead discussion
A2. Submit the narratives and slides of the paper P and Q. Electronic copy will be linked to the web-
page for the course to make those available to the audience. The written critique should be about
2000 words long and the oral presentation should consist of about 15-20 transparencies addressing
the following questions:
Problem statement
List the major contributions of the paper
What are the key concepts behind the approach in this paper
What is the validation methodology
List the assumptions made by the authors
If you were to rewrite this paper today, what would you preserve and what would be revise?
Briefly justify.
A3. Make a 15-minutes oral presentation in the class on paper P and Q.
A4. Lead the group discussion when paper R and S are presented.

18
Term Paper/Project
P0. Identify a team of two for your project and create a webpage for the project
P1. Define possible questions
P2. Identify key sources, types of evidence
P3. Summary of key readings
P4. Possible outline or overall structure for paper / project.
P5. Formal proposal: Includes questions or thesis, key resources, and proposed structure revised
with feedback from peers and the instructor.
P6. Rough draft. Follow the outlines from the research papers covered in the course. For example,
the draft may have 5 sections:
Problem Statement, Significance of the problem
Related Work and Our Contributions
Proposed Approach
Validation of listed contributions (experimental, analytical)
Conclusions and Future Work
P7. Oral presentation in the class using 20 transparencies

19
 Strategic System
Students are encouraged to discuss the interpretation of an assignment
However, the actual solution to problems must be one's own
In research report, related work should be properly cited

Helpful Comments
Read the textbook and papers before class
Participate class discussion
Review textbook and papers regularly after class
Start working on the assignments soon after they are
handed out.
Come to my office hours for questions and project
discussion
20
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION, GEODETIC ASTRONOMY

NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

• TECHNICAL PAPER REVIEWS AND PRESENTATION

• PAPER P:
Status of Geodetic Astronomy at the Beginning of the 21st Century
(Hirt and Beat Bürki, 2006)

PAPER Q:
Search for any paper of importance to Geodetic Astronomy based
on our discussions in class and carry out the outlined process of
paper reviews and presentation.
Homework (Huang, 2015)
Assignments
Include research paper critique and presentation
Assignments will be due at the beginning of the class on the due date
All assignments must have your name, student ID and course name/number
You are encouraged to type your answers

Late homework
Submit to my office on paper
30% penalty for the first 24-hour
70% penalty for >= 24 hour

22
 THE NIGERIAN COAST
L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION,
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION

• L1-ASSIGNMENT #1
a] find and list the parameters (a,
b, f, e, e’) of some 25 ellipsoids in use
in Geodesy /Geomatics Engineering;
b] Proof the following:
i. 𝑒 2 = 2𝑓 − 𝑓 2 ;
2 𝑒2
ii. 𝑒 = 2 ;
1− 𝑒 ′
𝑒′2
iii. 𝑒2 = 2 ;
1+𝑒 ′
c] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C#
codes for computing the parameters
in Q#1b.

L1-COORDINATE SYSTEMS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: PRECESSION,
NUTATION, POLAR MOTION AND PROPER MOTION
• ASSIGNMENTS
1] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C# codes for
computing the different variations in
Coordinate systems.
2] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C# codes for
computing the Reduction of star positions.
3] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C# codes for
computing the different Time systems:
sidereal, universal, ephemeris and atomic,
Time conversions and variations.
4] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C# codes for
computing the different Determination of
first and second order astronomic positions
and azimuths.
5] Develop C++/Matlab/Java/C# codes for
computing the different Astrogeodetic geoids.
THE NIGERIAN COAST
REFERENCES
1] The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979)
2] http://sci.fgt.bme.hu/gtoth/ge/geodesy3.pdf
3]
http://elib.mi.sanu.ac.rs/files/journals/pda/6/broj6_clanak23.
pdf
4]
https://www.fig.net/resources/proceedings/fig_proceedings/fi
g2006/papers/ps05_06/ps05_06_05_yilmaz_karaali_0554.pdf
5] Thomson, D. B. (1981). Introduction to Geodetic Astronomy-
LN49, University of New Brunswick, Canada;
6] http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/earth-atmospheric-and-planetary-
sciences/12-215-modern-navigation-fall-2006/lecture-notes/
7] Yan Huang (). Csci6330 Spatial Database Management,
(Lecture ppt Slides). (email: huangyan@unt.edu;
http://www.cs.unt.edu/~huangyan/6330)