An Observational Program for a Unified Optical / Radio Reference Frame
White, G.; de Vegt, C.; Johnston, K. J.; Russell, J.; Hughes, J. A.; Jauncey, D.; Nicholson, G.
Germany, United States, Australia
Abstract
An observational pilot program is described which provides a first step towards the construction of an inertial extragalactic reference frame from optical and radio measurements. Candidate objects will be selected from extragalactic compact radio sources which display optical counterparts. Galactic radio stars will be secondary reference objects. The reference frame will be defined by the radio positions of the extragalactic objects. Based on a coordinated effort in both hemispheres, a global homogeneous net of about 400 quasars and 100 radio stars is expected to result from a five year campaign.