Light Deflection for relativistic space astrometry in closed form

Abstract

Given the extreme accuracy reached by future global space astrometry, one needs a global relativistic modeling of observations. A relativistic definition of astrometric observables is then essential to find uniquely coordinates, parallax and proper motion of a stellar object. The standard procedure is to explicitly solve the null geodesic equations to describe the trajectory of a photon emitted by a celestial object and received by a moving observing satellite. However, this task can be avoided if one builds an astrometric set up using the recent formalism of time transfer functions.