TASS1.6 - EPHEMERIDES OF THE MAJOR SATURNIAN SATELLITES

We recall the main features of TASS, a new theory of high precision (a bout ten kilometers), for the satellites Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dio ne, Rhea, Titan and Japetus. It is analytical with respect to the dyna mical parameters of the Saturnian system, allowing to adjust them by f itting TASS to observations. In this paper TASS is compared to the Ear th based observations of these satellites found in the catalogue compi led by Strugnell and Taylor (1990). These observations have been put i n a form usable by the theory. We have built the corresponding equatio ns of condition (approximate to 50,000). A least square procedure has been done with a discussion about the estimation of the errors on the dynamical parameters which we have determined. The determination of th e physical parameters of the dynamical Saturnian system is in good agr eement with other determinations when they exist. Furthermore, the pre cisions of the oblateness coefficients J(2) and J(4) reach those based on Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft. The position of the equatorial pla ne is also found in good agreement with other determinations. Besides, the root-mean-square residuals between theory and observations are sl ightly improved. So, we can consider now that the reduction of the fut ure observations of high precision (mutual events in 1995-1996 and spa cecraft observations) should be done with this new tool to improve aga in our knowledge of the dynamical parameters of the system. TASS is no w ready to give accurate ephemerides of the major saturnian satellites .