VARIATIONS OF LIGHT VELOCITY AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF ERRORS IN ASTRONAVIGATION, RADIOLOCATION AND LASER RANGING

 

S. A. Semikov

Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod

The paper is received on December 18, 2013

Abstract: Analysis of systematic errors in astronavigation, radiolocation and laser ranging of astronomical objects and spacecraft is carried out. In particular, errors of radiodetermination of Venus, Pioneer effect, Flyby anomaly and irregularities of the Moon and Earth rotation detected by laser ranging are studied. The ballistic theory is analyzed according to which these errors are caused by unaccounted variations of radio signal and light velocities which, in their turn, are caused by influence of source velocity. It is shown that this classical theory predicts the correct value and sign of the error in all the studied cases and consideration of variability of light velocity as well as consideration of reemission of the light by the medium allows to relevantly decrease the value of systematical errors.

Key words: planetary radar, astronavigation, speed of light, ballistic theory, Lunar laser ranging, GPS, GLONASS.