The stellar triangulation with photographic observations

A general method for the adjustment of stellar triangulation using photographic observations of artificial satellites, missiles or rockets with stars in the background is suggested. This approach recognizes the plate readings as basic data and makes use of the astronomical method of dependences in establishing the conditional equations. The method is valid for both stationary and nonstationary camera systems. Its simplicity makes possible the adjustment in a block — as organic unit — of a world-wide triangulation with photographic observations. Since it is intended to establish a working system from this theory, some controversial engineering aspects are discussed while the method is critically compared with the familiar photogrammetric approach. A historical review and a synthesis of the contemporary efforts for the development of a world-wide stellar triangulation are presented.