Ephemeris Time

E497211

Ephemeris Time is a former astronomical time standard based on the orbital motion of the Earth around the Sun, used to provide a uniform measure of time before being replaced by more precise atomic-based scales.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf astronomical time standard
time scale
accuracyComparedToSolarTime more uniform than mean solar time
basedOn orbital motion of the Earth around the Sun
category astronomy
timekeeping
conceptDevelopedIn mid-20th century
definedBy motion of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun
theoretical gravitational motion rather than Earth rotation
definedIn 1952 IAU system of astronomical constants
definedInTermsOf tropical year 1900
definedRelativeTo Newcomb’s theory of the motion of the Sun
ephemerisSecondDefinedAs 1/31,556,925.9747 of the tropical year for 1900 January 0 at 12h ephemeris time
formalDefinitionYear 1952
frameOfReference solar system dynamics
historicalRole bridge between astronomical and atomic time scales
introducedBy International Astronomical Union NERFINISHED
measurementRealization lunar observations
observations of planetary positions
optical and radar observations of planets
motivation achieve a uniform time scale for celestial mechanics
remove irregularities in mean solar time
precision suitable for mid-20th-century planetary ephemerides
redefinitionImpact led to the modern SI second based on atomic transitions
referenceBody Earth NERFINISHED
Sun NERFINISHED
relatedTo Barycentric Dynamical Time NERFINISHED
Geocentric Dynamical Time NERFINISHED
International Atomic Time NERFINISHED
Terrestrial Time NERFINISHED
replacedBy International Atomic Time NERFINISHED
Terrestrial Dynamical Time NERFINISHED
Terrestrial Time NERFINISHED
atomic time scales
replacedStandard mean solar time
standardizedBy International Astronomical Union NERFINISHED
status obsolete as a primary time standard
stillUsedAs historical reference time scale
supersededBy Barycentric Dynamical Time NERFINISHED
Geocentric Dynamical Time NERFINISHED
timeUnit ephemeris second
underlyingProblemAddressed irregular rotation of the Earth
usedFor providing a uniform measure of time
usedIn celestial mechanics
high-precision astronomical observations
planetary ephemerides

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Terrestrial Time successorOf Ephemeris Time
TT successorOf Ephemeris Time
subject surface form: Terrestrial Time