VLBI  Data  Analysis  Centre

Structure

The Ukrainian Centre of Determination of the Earth's Orientation Parameters (UCEOP) ensures information and technical support of Ukrainian VLBI data analysis centre.

The VLBI Data Analysis Centre of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (MAO NASU) was established in 1995.

The primary task of the VLBI Data Analysis Centre are the following:

• software developing,
• data processing of the VLBI observations for IERS and IVS submissions,
• archiving observations for local needs.

All available VLBI observations (3,584 sessions, not counting INT-like campaigns, with latest version number in DBH Mk-III format) are kept in local archives. As well as the VLBI observations, we keep mirroring of IERS EOP solutions and Celestial and Terrestrial Reference Frames. The VLBI data archives contain at present about 10Gb of information.

The unique SteelBreeze software, developed by Sergei Bolotin (MAO NASU), is used for geodetic VLBI data analysis. Various investigations of the stability of the Celestial Reference Frame were carried out. The study of variations of tropospheric zenith delays and comparison of GPS- and VLBI-derived zenith delays were performed. At present, time variations of Love and Shida numbers are analysed.

Since 1996, regular yearly determinations of coordinates and velocities of the EOP and VLBI stations as well as coordinates of radio sources are performed at the VLBI data analysis centre.

In November 2003 regular weekly EOP determinations from VLBI data processing started. The results are based on the analysis of the latest VLBI observations conducted since 2000. The EOP solutions are sent to IVS for further processing.

The results of the VLBI operational analysis you can find on the web site IVS.