-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRZEZINSKI Aleksander, Poland, alek@cbk.waw.pl

DEFRAIGNE Pascale, Belgium, Pascale.Defraigne@oma.be

FINKELSTEIN Andrey, Russia, amf@quasar.ipa.nw.ru

SOFFEL Michael, Germany, soffel@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de

VONDRAK Jan, Czech R., vondrak@ig.cas.cz

YATSKIV Yaroslav, Ukraine, yatskiv@mao.kiev.ua

A.Finkelstein (Chair), V.Brumberg, V.Gubanov (vice-Chair),

I. Kumkova, G.Krasinsky, Z.Malkin,

N.Panafidina (secretary), N.Shuygina, E.Yagudina

Institute of Applied Astronomy of Russian Academy of Sciences

10 Kutuzov Quay, 191187, St.Petersburg,

Russian Federation

phone : +7-(812)275-11-18

fax : +7-(812)275-11-19

The conference is intended to provide a forum for researchers in the fields of Earth rotation, astronomical reference frames and astrometry. One of the purposes of this meeting is to discuss the latest scientific developments in these topics after the 25^th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in July 2003 in Sydney.

We would like to invite you and your colleagues, especially young researchers of your institution, to participate in this conference and to contribute to the scientific program with a short talk or poster. The scientific organizing committee will decide upon the acceptance of your contribution.

In order to be able to prepare the final program, please let us know the title of your contribution by May 1, 2003 by filling in the enclosed registration form. As we would like to distribute a collection of abstracts to stimulate discussion, we ask you to send us your abstract (which should not exceed one page) by August 1, 2003 .

It is planned to have the Proceedings published by IAA RAS.

The sessions of the conference will be held in the rooms of the Institute of Applied Astronomy.

Accomodation will be possible in following hotels (preliminary prices are given in USD):

Name Class Single Double

Student hotel

„Academicheskaya" 12 14

Student hotel

„Millionnaya" 12 20

Pulkovo

Observatory hotel 8 16

„Rus" ** 45 70

„Neva" *** 50 70

„Octiabrskaya" *** 70 110

„Moscow" *** 83 106

„St.Petersburg" *** 80 100

Business-class **** 100 120

All hotels exept Pulkovo Observatory hotel and „Millionnaya" hotel are situated nearby the Institute. Unfortunately, the prices may be a little bit higher because September is still a touristic season.

A visa is necessary to enter Russia for foreigners coming from abroad. For getting this visa, an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required. In order to get this invitation, please send:

1. The copy of the first page of your passport (.JPEG file or fax copy);

2. Your affiliation (address, telephone number, fax number);

3. The address of Russian Embassy/Consulate to apply for visa;

4. Date of arrival/departure.

This invitation costs 6 USD for a foreign participant of the Journees (will be included into the registration fee) and 16 USD for an accompany person.

The conference language will be English.

Registration fee is 50 USD. This amount includes the welcome reception, coffee breaks, visa invitation, list of participants and program, book of abstract. This amount is to be paid in cash.

It is planned to prepare a special visit or excursion to the historical center of St. Petersburg and Radioastronomical Obsevatory Svetloe which is situated in the picturesque plase in the neighbourhood of St.Petersburg.

Important dates :

• Submission of registration form May 1, 2003
• Room reservation May 1, 2003
• Notification of acceptance June 1, 2003
• Submission of abstract August 1, 2003

Please contact us for questions and problems.

SESSION I : CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL REFERENCE FRAMES, TECHNIQUES, DEFINITIONS AND LINKS

– Radio and Optical realization of ICRS at present and in future

– ITRF2000: VLBI and other Space Geodesy techniques collocation

– IERS Conventions 2000: overview of new concepts

– Celestial and Terrestrial Ephemeris Origins: definition and use

– Celestial Intermediate Pole (CIP): definition and motions in ICRS and ITRS

SESSION II : ROTATION OF THE EARTH AND OTHER PLANETS: OBSERVATIONS AND MODELS (A.Ya. Orlov‘s session)

– Transformation between ITRS and ICRS: „old" and „new" paradigms

– IAU2000 Precession-Nutation model: comparison with observation

– Free Core Nutation: analysis and prediction

– New IERS EOP Products: definition and determination

– Rotation of Moon and Mars

SESSION III : PLATE TECTONICS, CRUSTAL DEFORMATIONS AND GEOPHYSICAL FLUIDS

– Tidal displacement, atmospheric and ocean loading models and determination

– Motions on the Earth‘s surface: winds and ocean currents

– Irregularity in tectonic motion and Earthquakes

– Plate Tectonics and secular polar motion

– Geophysical fluids

SESSION IV : SOLAR SYSTEM DYNAMICS

– Planetary and Lunar theory and ephemeris

– Natural satellites of major planets: theory and observations

SESSION V : RELATIVITY AND TIME

– Relativity in astrometry, geodynamics and celestial mechanics

– Relativistic effects in IERS Conventions 2000

– Time and time transfer

D.D McCarthy for the IERS Conventions 2000 (Session I)

D. Gambis for the new IERS EOP products (Session II)

Z. Malkin for the comparison IAU2000 precession nutation with

Observations (Session II)

M. Soffel and V. Brumberg for the relativity in astrometry, geodynamics and celstial mechanics (Session V)

T. Fukushima for Precession-nutation model and Free Core Nutation

(Session II)

M. Standish for Planetary and Lunar Ephemerides (Session IV).

e-mail : nap@quasar.ipa.nw.ru