Data on Time and Polar Motion: Immediate Accessibility

Abstract

AbstractUsers of time and polar motion information have requirements for data which are somewhat different from those usually considered for astronomical data files. Because of these requirements, it is necessary to provide immediate access to the latest information on Earth orientation and even predictions of future orientation. For other applications where data of the highest accuracy is required with little concern for the delay between observations and the determination o f the required information, a more traditional approach may be used. To meet all of these needs a versatile automated data retrieval system is demanded. The U. S. Naval observatory is now implementinq such a system in the area of Earth orientation information and for precise time and time interval applications. Data are available through a series of weekly, monthly, and annual reports, as well as through a digital communications link to Time Service machine-readable files.