MG11 
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Solar Eclipses and Relativistic Tests of Lunar Motion

During a central solar eclipse it is possible to determine with an accuracy better than ephemerides the position of the limits of totality/annularity. Uncertainties on current lunar ephemerides are discussed. The ephemerides can be upgraded with multiple observations of Baily Beads from eclipses' limits. The possibility of relativistic tests on lunar motion based upon eclipses data, in comparison with the lunar laser ranging, is presented. Examples on the annular eclipse of Spain (Oct. 3, 2005) and the total one in Lybia (Mar. 29, 2006) are also shown.

Stellar Occultation by Asteroids: the case of Regulus

Preliminary results of mission to Vibo Valentia (Calabria, Italy) to measure the Regulus' occultation by the asteroid 166 Rhodope on October 19, 2005 are presented. Asteroidal profile, stellar diameter and orbital parameters can be improved by such observation, combined with other observations made across Europe. The accuracy of such observations is discussed in view of detection of relativistic effects in the asteroidal orbit.

Stellar Aberration of Sirius in 1703 from Bianchini's data

Stellar aberration become the first special relativistic effect to be discovered by the royal astronomer J. Bradley in 1727. Francesco Bianchini (1662-1729) built a great meridian line in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, Rome, upon request of Pope Clement XI. It was inhaugurated in 1702. He made observations of meridian transits of Sirius and of the Sun in 1703, January (night) and June-July (at noon). I analyzed those data for recovering the original azimuth of the Line, finding evidences of stellar aberration within the errors of measurement. Moreover aberration affects also Polaris' observations (upper and lower transits) made in January 1701 to measure the latitude of the site.