New accuracy levels for solar system ephemerides

Abstract

DE403/LE403 is the latest JPL Planetary and Lunar Ephemeris. It represents a number of changes and improvements to previous JPL ephemerides: the reference frame is now that of the IERS, newer and more accurate observations are used in the adjustment process, some of the data reduction techniques have been refined, and improved dynamical modeling has been incorporated into the equations of motion. As a result, the internal accuracy of the inner four planets has been improved. Further, various measurements accurately tie Jupiter onto the IERS Reference Frame. In the future, use of CCD measurements and the Hipparcos Catalogue should improve the ephemerides of the outermost four planets.DE403/LE403 has been integrated over 6000 years, from 3000 BC to 3000 AD. A more condensed representation has been made from this, named DE404/LE404. It replaces DE102 as the new JPL “Long Ephemeris”.