HJD/BJD

Heliocentric Julian Date

Heliocentric Julian Date (HJD) is the Julian Date (JD) corrected for the effects of the Earth's motion around the Sun. It accounts for the light travel time between the Earth and the Sun by shifting the observer's position to the Sun's center, which helps in more accurate timing of astronomical events, especially when observing distant celestial objects like stars or exoplanets. HJD removes the small variations caused by the Earth's movement, providing more precise measurements of the timing of events as seen from the Sun's reference frame.

Barycentric Julian Date

Barycentric Julian Date (BJD) is the Julian Date (JD) corrected for the motion of the observer relative to the center of mass of the Solar System, known as the barycenter. This correction accounts for both the Earth's motion and the influence of other planets, ensuring highly precise timing of astronomical events, particularly for distant objects. BJD is more accurate than HJD because it considers the gravitational effects of all massive bodies in the Solar System, making it essential for timing sensitive measurements like exoplanet transits and pulsar timings.

JD to HJD / BJD