Coordination Action for the integration of
Solar System Infrastructures and Science


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    Coordinates

    Spatial Coordinates

    Give the diversity of the different types of science within the Solar System, it is not possible to define a single coordinate system than can be used in all cases. The coordinate system that is most suitable depends on the domain, the science topic and Solar System body in question.

    For example, if when undertaking a study in geo-sciences, the coordinate system need to be related to the Earth. If the study of things on or near the surface, a coordinate system related to the rotation axis of the Earth may be appropriate; if the study os of the ionopshere or magnetopshere then the coordinate system that is related to the Earth's magnetic field is required. The further from the Earth's surface, the more the coordinate system needs to be related to the Earth-Sun line.

    The HELIO project is heliophysics, studying the effects of the Sun on the Solar System. The project has produced a document describing the Spatial Coordinate Systems that it is using that chooses different coordinates systems for different part of the problem.

    The IVOA has produced a set of recommendation on Space-Time Coordinate Metadata for the Virtual Observatory that contains some useful material but is more oriented towards astrophysics.

    Reference Material related to coordinates can be found here.

    Temporal Coordinates

    These pages are under construction.