A Giant Step From Milli To Micro Arcsecond Astrometry Iau S248

State-of-the-art review of the growing field of astrometry, for researchers and graduate students.

The Proceedings of IAU S248 reflect the state-of-the-art in the field of astrometry, summarizing the scientific achievements at the tenth anniversary of the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogue release. It shows the latest achievements in ground-based astrometry and details the progress of second-generation astrometric satellites. Currently, the highest accuracies at a micro-arc-second level are reached by interferometric techniques, especially at radio wavelengths. Establishing and maintaining the celestial reference frame at this level, within a relativistic framework, has been identified as one of astrometry's main tasks. The era of large surveys and virtual observatories brings inevitable changes to the role of astrometry in astronomy. For instance, galactic structure and evolution can be fully understood only by combining astrometric and astrophysical parameters. Finally, due attention is given to astrometric education in astronomy curricula for the twenty-first century. These Proceedings convincingly demonstrate the ever growing role played by astrometry in understanding the Universe.

A complete record of the formal organisational and administrative proceedings of the XXVII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.

This text details the fundamentals of astrometry at milli- and micro-arcsecond accuracies.

A complete and in-depth review of exoplanet research, covering the discovery methods, physics and theoretical background.

An authoritative account of the contributions to science made by the Hipparcos satellite, for astronomers, astrophysicists and cosmologists.

Exoplanet research is one of the most explosive subjects in astronomy today. More than 500 exoplanets are now known, and groups world-wide are actively involved in a broad range of observational and theoretical efforts. This book ties together these many avenues of investigation - from the perspectives of observation, technology and theory - to give a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the entire field. All areas of exoplanet investigation are covered, making it a unique and valuable guide for researchers in astronomy and planetary science, including those new to the field. It treats the many different techniques now available for exoplanet detection and characterisation, the broad range of underlying physics, the overlap with related topics in solar system and Earth sciences, and the concepts underpinning future developments. It emphasises the interconnection between the various fields and provides extensive references to more in-depth treatments and reviews.