J/A+A/705/A88ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/705/A88CDSRambaux N.Fienga A.Seyffert Y.Sosnica K.Kaitheri A.Laskar J.,Gastineau M.Baguet D.2026-03-02T06:25:50Z2026-01-09T10:19:18ZCDS support team

CDS, Observatoire de Strasbourg, 11 rue de l'Universite, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

cds-question@unistra.frsolar-systemastrometryastronomical-reference-materialsThe definition of a reference system plays a crucial role in quantifying geodetic effects and for surface body cartography. Today, the development and specification of the lunar reference system is stimulated by future space missions, some of which will be manned, and by the needs of lunar space navigation. The aim of this paper is to describe the lunar reference system in use and to determine the accuracy of its realisation in space and time. At present, two lunar reference systems are defined, the PA system defined according to the Moon principal axes of inertia, and the ME system defined by the Earth's mean position on the Moon surface. A first step to relativistic definition of the lunar time scale is also introduced in agreement with the one proposed by IAU and other recent realisation. The realisation of a PA lunar reference system is based on the choice of an ephemeris, which relies upon the coordinates of the laser retro-reflectors on the Moon surface. The ME system/frame are related to the PA system/frame through the definition of a rotation transformation. The paper provides a new procedure to determine the transformation procedure between the two systems that is based on a series decomposition of librations and pole motion. The comparison of the position of the lunar laser retro-reflectors obtained with different ephemerides is used to estimate the internal and external uncertainties of the different realisations of the PA and ME systems as well as comparisons between Euler angles and propagation of Euler angle uncertainties. This paper provides the full expression of the transformation and a new libration and polar motion series of the lunar motion. It also introduces possible realisations of the lunar time-scales depending the usage. The proposed procedure with the opportunities for future improvements can help set new standards for the lunar reference systems and its realisations.2026A&A...705A..88Rhttps://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/705/A88CatalogResearchIsServedByTAP VizieR generic servicehttps://cds.unistra.fr/vizier-org/licences_vizier.htmlhttps://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/A+A/705/A88https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/A+A/705/A88http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/A+A/705/A88https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/A+A/705/A88https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/A+A/705/A88http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/A+A/705/A88GETtext/xml+votablehttps://tapvizier.cds.unistra.fr/TAPVizieR/tapdefaultJ/A+A/705/A88/isigmaSeries for ISigmarecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintArgDelaunay and planetary argumentsmeta.notecharPerPerioddtime.perioddoubleCCosine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoubleSSine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoublePCCosine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublePSSine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoubleJ/A+A/705/A88/p1Series for P1recnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintArgDelaunay and planetary argumentsmeta.notecharPerPerioddtime.perioddoubleCCosine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoubleSSine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoublePCCosine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublePSSine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoubleJ/A+A/705/A88/p2Series for P2recnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintArgDelaunay and planetary argumentsmeta.notecharPerPerioddtime.perioddoubleCCosine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoubleSSine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoublePCCosine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublePSSine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoubleJ/A+A/705/A88/rhoSeries for RhorecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintArgDelaunay and planetary argumentsmeta.notecharPerPerioddtime.perioddoubleCCosine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoubleSSine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoublePCCosine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublePSSine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoubleJ/A+A/705/A88/tauSeries for TauPCCosine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublePSSine Poisson termarcsec/cyrstat.fit.paramdoublerecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintArgDelaunay and planetary argumentsmeta.notecharPerPerioddtime.perioddoubleCCosine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdoubleSSine Fourier termarcsecstat.fit.paramdouble