If an axially symmetric stationary metric is given in standard form (i.e. in coordinates adapted to the symmetries) the transformation




=
-
t (

=constant) of the azimuthal angle leads to another such standard form. The spatial lattice
L
corresponding to the latter rotates at angular velocity

relative to the lattice
L of the former. For the standard form of a stationary metric there are simple formulae giving the four-acceleration of a given lattice point and the rotation of a gyroscope at a given lattice point. Applying these formulae to
L
, we find the condition for circular paths about the axis in
L to be 4-geodesic, and also the precession of gyroscopes along circular paths which are not necessarily geodesic. Among other examples we re-obtain the complete geodesic structure of the Gödel universe, and the gyroscopic precessions associated with the names of Thomas, Fokker and de Sitter, and Schiff.