Reference frame · ICRS
The International Celestial Reference System
The modern, fixed reference frame for the sky, defined by the positions of hundreds of distant quasars whose motion is undetectable. It replaced frames tied to the slowly-shifting equinox with one anchored to some of the most distant objects known — the standard to which all precise astronomical positions are now referred.
Highlights
- ›The sky's frame, fixed to distant quasars
Bodies, frames & concepts
Across celestial mechanics
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe J2000 Epoch
- Associated withParallax
- Associated withThe Barycentric Celestial Reference System
- Associated withThe Ecliptic & Equinox
- Associated withThe J2000 Epoch
- Associated withAngular Separation
- Associated withThe Equatorial Coordinate System
- Associated withThe International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF3)
- Associated withThe Fifth Fundamental Catalogue (FK5)
- Associated withNutation
- Associated withInternational Astronomical Union (IAU)
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.