2002A&A...386.1153T

The present status of the Kyiv meridian axial circle after its refurbishment is described. The mounting of a new micrometer with the front-illuminated CCD 1040x1160 allows to observe stars up to V=16mag. For the stars of 11-14mag, the internal positional accuracy of a single observation is 0.05-0.10'', and stellar V values are determined with an accuracy of 0.03-0.06mag. The project of observations of star fields in the direction of 209 extragalactic radio-sources in declination zone 0+30° is now in progress. The catalogue of positions, magnitudes and proper motions of secondary reference stars in regions with ICRF sources is expected to be compiled by 2003. Another project under way is a long-term astrometric survey of the equatorial zone to extend the Hipparcos-Tycho frame to fainter stars, and to measure their magnitudes and V-R colours.