Keck/NIRC2 obs. of the Galactic Center

One of the largest systematic uncertainties in the measured orbits has been errors in the astrometric reference frame, which is derived from seven infrared-bright stars associated with SiO masers that have extremely accurate radio positions, measured in the Sgr A*-rest frame.

We have improved the astrometric reference frame within 14" of the Galactic Center by a factor of 2.5 in position and a factor of 5 in proper motion. In the new reference frame, Sgr A* is localized to within a position of 0.645mas and proper motion of 0.03mas/yr. We have removed a substantial rotation (2.25{deg} per decade), that was present in the previous less-accurate reference frame used to measure stellar orbits in the field.