Numerical estimation of the sensitivity of INPOP planetary ephemerides to general relativity parameters,

A. Fienga (1) , J. Laskar (2) , P. Exertier (1) , H. Manche (2) , M. Gastineau (2)

1 GEOAZUR 7329 - Géoazur
2 IMCCE - Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides

In this paper, are given numerical estimations of the sensitivity of the latest version of the INPOP planetary ephemerides (INPOP13c) to GR parameters: the PPN parameters β, γ, and the oblateness of the Sun J⊙2. Time variations of the gravitational mass of the Sun μ are also considered. A first estimation is obtained by fitting these parameters with the classic method of least squares to planetary observations together with other parameters used for planetary ephemeris construction. A second approach is investigated using a new method of construction of alternative ephemerides. They are based on the same dynamical modeling and observational samples but in a non-GR framework with non-zero or non-unity GR parameters. Some alternative ephemerides are found to be close to INPOP13c and acceptable intervals of GR parameters are then defined at the light of the present INPOP13c accuracy. These intervals are compared with the one obtained with the direct least square estimation and with those extracted from the literature. No violation of GR is at this point noticeable.

Domaines: Sciences de la Terre

A. Fienga, J. Laskar, P. Exertier, H. Manche, M. Gastineau. Numerical estimation of the sensitivity of INPOP planetary ephemerides to general relativity parameters,. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 2015, 123 (3), pp.325-349. ⟨10.1007/s10569-015-9639-y⟩. ⟨hal-01362401⟩