In the òÀÜAstronomical YearbookòÀÝ (AY) the ephemerides of the Sun, Moon, major planets and stars computed with the maximum precision in accordance with the resolutions approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) are published. The information is also given on various astronomical phenomena – lunar and solar eclipses, planetary configurations, rises and sets of the Sun and Moon, etc. The explanation, contained the examples, illustrates the possibility of the calculation of various ephemerides to any particular time and for the any observation place.

Since issue for 2004 the reform AY was carried out connected to change of ephemerical basis AY according to Recommendations XXIII-XXIV General assemblies IAU. In the course several years full replacement of theories of movement of major planets and the Moon, of the precession-nutation models, of the star catalogue is stage by stage made. The system of coordinates based on the new concept of òÀÜthe non-rotating originòÀÝ is entered. Separate stages of reform are described in forewords and explanations to the Yearbooks on 2004-2007.

Preparation of the AE-2008 ephemerides is based on the following data:

• The fundamental ephemerides of the Sun, the Moon and major planets are calculated on the theory EPM2004 developed at IAA RAS. This theory present the movement of these objects with accuracy enough for the theoretical and practical applications. The differences between the theories EPM2004 and DE405/LE405 in common use developed at the JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA) are less on the order than the accuracy of the data published in AY for these bodies.
• In accordance with the IAU2000 resolution the parameters of the nutation in longitude and declination are calculated under the IAU2000A nutation theory.
• The account of precession was carried out in the Lieske method of parameterization With values of polynomial coefficients corresponding the new precession model.
• Calculation the sidereal time is made with use òÀÜthe Siderial AngleòÀÝ and new expression for the equation of equinoxes accepted by òÀÜIERS Convention (2003)òÀÝ.
• The shift of average pole J2000.0 relative to the pole ICRS is taken into account at calculation of elements of the precession-nutation matrix.
• Calculing the stars ephemerides the fundamental catalog FK6 was used. The ephemerides of the stars which have not in this catalog are based on the catalog HIPPARCOS. Both catalogues are in ICRS. Calculating the corrections for orbital movement of double stars òÀÜFourth catalog of orbits of visual binary starsòÀÝ WH-4 was used.
• The ephemeris data of the Yearbook are given in the classical concept of equinox. According to the recommendation XXIV GA IAU (resolution B1.7) the data connected with the new Celestial Intermediate Reference System (CIRS), and elements of a matrix of transition from ICRS to the celestial intermediate origin CIO and true equator of date.

In that way the important changes took place in most parts of òÀÜThe Astronomical YearbookòÀÝ.

Since edition for 1997 all ephemeris data are calculated using òÀÜAEòÀÝ – òÀÜAstronomical YearbookòÀÝ software package created in the laboratory of astronomical yearbooks. In edition for 2008 the ephemerides of the Sun, the Moon, planets and the terms of reductions are calculated by means of the PS AY-EPM edition package of a multi-purpose program complex the ERA developed in IAA of RAS for the decision of problems of ephemeris astronomy.

In òÀÜThe Astronomical Yearbook for 2008òÀÝ the calculation of the ephemeris data was carried out by following collaborators of the laboratory of astronomical yearbooks:

• the sidereal time – N.I. Glebova, M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the ephemerides of the geocentric coordinates of the Sun and Moon, the geocentric and heliocentric coordinates of the major planets, osculating elements of the planet orbits, the ephemerides of the position and velocity of the Earth in the barycentric frame, the elements of the precession matrix and of the nutation matrix, the terms by reductions – N.I. Glebova;
• the ephemerides of the Moon (coefficients of the Tchebyshov polynomials), the ephemerides for physical observations of the Moon, the phases of the Moon, perigee and apogee – N.I. Glebova;
• the seasons and precession values, the planetary configurations – N.I. Glebova;
• the data for the eclipses of the Sun and Moon – M.V. Lukashova;
• the data for the occultations of planets by the Moon – G.A. Kosmodamianskij;
• the ephemerides for physical observations of the Sun, planets and Saturn's rings – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the times of rise and set of the Sun and Moon – M.V. Lukashova;
• mean places of stars at J2000.0, the table of the corrections for the orbital motion of stars – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• the mean places of stars on epoch of the year, the apparent places of the tenday and circumpolar stars – N.I. Glebova;
• the tables for altitudes and azimuths of Polaris and the tables for latitude determinations from observations of Polaris – M.L. Sveshnikov;
• Earth rotation angle, Equation of the Origins, the CIP parameters, matrix elements for conversion from ICRS to CIO and true equator of date – N.I. Glebova, M.L. Sveshnikov;

The data control was carried out by N.I. Glebova, N.K. Omelyanchuk, and I.A. Lebedeva.

The essential edition of the explanation for the Yearbook was carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova, and M.L. Sveshnikov. The additional information on algorithms of calculation of ephemerides published in AY is given in òÀÜThe Explanatory Supplement to òÀÜthe Astronomical YearbookòÀÝ (òÀÜTransactions of IAA of RASòÀÝ, 2004, vol.10). The examples in the Explanation were carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova and M.L. Sveshnikov.

The Explanation in the T_EX was carried out by N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova, M.L. Sveshnikov and N.K. Omelyanchuk. Since 1995 the publication of the òÀÜAstronomical YearbookòÀÝ was carried out by means of the òÀÜSystem of the table edition issue SVITAòÀÝ worked out by the collaborations of the astronomical software development technology laboratory. The preparation of the edition of òÀÜThe Astronomical Yearbook for 2008òÀÝ was carry out with the participation of G.A. Necvetaeva, D.A. Ryzhkova.

The original-maket of the Yearbook was prepared in IAA RAS.

Some ephemerides published in Yearbook were inserted in Internet:

http://vm-www.ipa.nw.ru/PAGE/EDITION/ENG/newe.htm

• The seasons values, coefficients of the Tchebyshov polynomials of the Moon ephemerides, the phases of the Moon, the planetary configurations, the data for the eclipses of the Sun and Moon (N.I. Glebova, M.V. Lukashova)
• The list of the observatories coordinates as appendix to Yearbook (M.V. Lukashova, M.L. Sveshnikov) are placed on a site

WEB-master – N.I. Alehina.

Appendix: Coordinates of observatories

Appendix: Satellites of Jupiter