Definition and realization of the celestial intermediate reference system

Abstract The transformation between the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) and the Geocentric Celestial Reference system (GCRS) is an essential part of the models to be used when dealing with Earth's rotation or when computing directions of celestial objects in various systems. The 2000 and 2006 IAU resolutions on reference systems have modified the way the Earth orientation is expressed and adopted high accuracy models for expressing the relevant quantities for the transformation from terrestrial to celestial systems. First, the IAU 2000 Resolutions have refined the definition of the astronomical reference systems and transformations between them and adopted the IAU 2000 precession-nutation. Then, the IAU 2006 Resolutions have adopted a new precession model that is consistent with dynamical theories and have addressed definition, terminology or orientation issues relative to reference systems and time scales that needed to be specified after the adoption of the IAU 2000 resolutions. These in particular provide a refined definition of the pole (the Celestial intermediate pole, CIP) and the origin (the Celestial intermediate origin, CIO) on the CIP equator as well as a rigorous definition of sidereal rotation of the Earth. These also allow an accurate realization of the celestial intermediate system linked to the CIP and the CIO that replaces the classical celestial system based on the true equator and equinox of date. This talk explains the changes resulting from the joint IAU 2000/2006 resolutions and reviews the consequences on the concepts, nomenclature, models and conventions in fundamental astronomy that are suitable for modern and future realizations of reference systems. Realization of the celestial intermediate reference system ensuring a micro-arc-second accuracy is detailed.