Relativistic aspects of rotational motion of celestial bodies

TL;DR

This paper discusses the complex relativistic modeling of celestial bodies' rotational motion using IAU reference systems, emphasizing recent post-Newtonian Earth rotation developments and their applicability to other planets.

Contribution

It summarizes recent advances in relativistic Earth rotation theory within the post-Newtonian framework and highlights its potential application to other celestial bodies.

Findings

Summary of relativistic Earth rotation theory

Demonstration of theoretical components

Potential application to Moon, Mars, Mercury

Abstract

Relativistic modelling of rotational motion of extended bodies represents one of the most complicated problems of Applied Relativity. The relativistic reference systems of IAU (2000) give a suitable theoretical framework for such a modelling. Recent developments in the post-Newtonian theory of Earth rotation in the limit of rigidly rotating multipoles are reported below. All components of the theory are summarized and the results are demonstrated. The experience with the relativistic Earth rotation theory can be directly applied to model the rotational motion of other celestial bodies. The high-precision theories of rotation of the Moon, Mars and Mercury can be expected to be of interest in the near future.