Working Group on Satellites: (Groupe de Travail Pour Satellites)

During the period from July 1996 to Dec 1998, 189 photographic positions of the galilean satellites were obtained with the zonal astrograph (D=120 mm, F=2044mm). In the year 1998 the close approach of the satellite system with the star N 117881 from the HIPPARCOS catalogue was observed. The observations of 1996 were processed using PPM catalogue and the observations of 1997, 1998 in the ICRS using HIPPARCOS and ACTRC star catalogues. The results are not yet published, but are available upon request. Observations made since 1962 up to 1996 with the zonal astrograph were reprocessed and results are in preparation for publication. During the period from 1996 to 1998, 69 positions of the Galilean satellites were determined by photoelectric meridian observations with the Repsold meridian circle equipped by CCD-microscopes (F=2150 mm, D=150 mm).