bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceptual Aproach to Astronomy and Basic Science Education
Authors: Melek M.
Published: July 2016

An approach is developed, in which the major dynamical and physical concepts of astronomy and basic space science are used, to build a scheme (prototype model) for education on the undergraduate level. A way to teach different theories and observational facts is shown, in which those concepts are built in or used; within the suggested educational scheme. The computational techniques which are needed in astronomy and basic space science are disscussed at which steps through the suggested educational scheme might be introduced.
Astronomy Research in China
Authors: Wang Jingxiu
Published: July 2016

Decades of efforts made by Chinese astronomers have established some basic facilities for astronomy observations, such as the 2.16-m optical telescope, the solar magnetic-field telescope, the 13.7-m millimeter-wave radio telescope etc. One mega-science project, the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), intended for astronomical and astrophysical studies requiring wide fields and large samples, has been initiated and funded.

To concentrate the efforts on mega-science projects, to operate and open the national astronomical facilities in a more effective way, and to foster the best astronomers and research groups, the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOs) has been coordinated and organizated. Four research centers, jointly sponsored by observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and universities, have been established. Nine principal research fields have received enhanced support at NAOs. They are: large-scale structure of universe, formation and evolution of galaxies, high-energy and cataclysmic processes in astrophysics, star formation and evolution, solar magnetic activity and heliogeospace environment, astrogeodynamics, dynamics of celestial bodies in the solar system and artificial bodies, space-astronomy technology, and new astronomical techniques and methods.
Developing an Astronomical Observatory in Paraguay
Authors: Troche-Boggino Alexis E.
Published: July 2016

Background: Paraguay has some heritage from the astronomy of the Guarani Indians. Buenaventura Suarez S.J. was a pioneer astronomer in the country in the XVIII century. He built various astronomical instruments and imported others from England. He observed eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites and of the Sun and Moon. He published his data in a book and through letters. The Japanese O.D. A. has collaborated in obtaining equipment and advised their government to assist Paraguay in building an astronomical observatory, constructing a moving-roof observatory and training astronomers as observatory operators. Future: An astronomical center is on the horizon and some possible fields of research are being considered. Goal: To improve education at all possible levels by not only observing sky wonders, but also showing how instruments work and teaching about data and image processing, saving data and building a data base. Students must learn how a modern scientist works.
Commission 51: Bioastronomy: Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Bioastronomie: Recherche de la Vie Extraterrestre)
Authors: Bowyer S. , Bowyer S. , Almar I. , Colomb F. , Drake F. , Heidmann J. , Leger A. , Mayor M. , Owen T. , Sullivan W. , Tarter J. , Wellington K.
Published: July 2016

Professor Colomb resigned as President of the Commission because of pressing demands of work. The Organizing Committee appointed Stuart Bowyer (Vice President) as Acting President.

The Commission has proposed changing its name to “Bioastronomy: Search for Extrasolar Planets and Extraterrestial Life” to reflect our long-standing involvement in the search for extrasolar planets. The name change is pending approval of the IAU.
Commission 26: Double and Multiple Stars (Etoiles Doubles Et Multiples)
Authors: Zinnecker H. , Scarfe C. , Allen C. , Armstrong T. , Hartkopf W. , Mathieu R.D. , Tokovinin A. , Valtonen M.
Published: July 2016

This triennial report (1996-1999) reviews the subject from a somewhat personal angle, mostly related to binary star formation and young binary star populations – a subject whose time had come in the early 1990s and is now in full swing.

Many astronomers have searched for binary systems among main-sequence stars, and two large-scale surveys published in 1991 and 1992 have already become classics. Well before they became famous for finding extrasolar planets (see below), observing teams led by Michel Mayor (Geneva Observatory) and Geoffrey Marcy (San Francisco State Univ., now Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley) spent many years searching for low-mass stellar companions of nearby stars. The late Antoine Duquennoy and Mayor surveyed all solar-type dwarfs (spectral types F7 through G9) within 20 pc of the Sun, while Debra Fischer and Marcy studied stars with somewhat lower mass (M dwarfs) slightly nearer to the Sun.
Commission 33: Structure and Dynamics of the Galactic System: (Structure Et Dynamique du Systeme Galactique)
Authors: Freeman K. , Spergel D. , Binney J. , Fridman A. , Gerhard O. , Grindlay J. , Kalnajs A. , Matteucci F. , Palous J. , Perryman M. , Whitelock P.
Published: July 2016

This report lists some of the major conferences that took place or were published during the current period in the areas of interest to Commission 33. It then presents in summary form some of the scientific highlights in these areas. An expanded version of this report, including more related conferences, full references and a report of activities from the former Soviet Union, appears on the mid-2000 WWW page of the Commission: http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~ kcf/kcf_ftp/IAU/comm33report_1999.html.
Division VIII: Galaxies and the Universe: (Les Galaxies Et L’Univers)
Authors: Shaver P. , Bertola F. , Narlikar J. , Okamura S. , Peacock J. , Szalay A. , Trimble V.
Published: July 2016

The fields of research covered by Division VIII and its two Commissions have experienced remarkable progress over the last several years. This is due at least in part to the proliferation of major new observational facilities, and the addition of the several 8-m class telescopes presently being completed and new space facilities which will have a huge impact in the years to come. Many of the important recent scientific developments are summarized on the following pages in the reports of Commission 28 and Commission 47. These reports have been prepared in the “short” form, and are intended both to present the major scientific highlights and the most important conference proceedings and reviews for further reading.
Working Group on Infrared Astronomy: (Groupe de Travail Pour L’Astronomie Infrarouge)
Authors: Milone Eugene F. , Bell Roger A. , Bessell Michael , Garrison Robert , Cohen Martin , Glass Ian S. , Kurucz Robert L. , Mountain Matthew , Riecke George , Schiller Stephen J. , Simon Douglas , Skrutskie Michael , Stagg Christopher S. , Sterken Chris , Thompson Roger I. , Tokunaga Alan , Young Andrew T.
Published: July 2016

In 1988, a Joint Commission (9 and 25) meeting on the causes of the well-known limitations on the precision of infrared astronomy led to several suggestions to improve matters (see Milone 1989). These included better reporting of the photometric systems in use by practitioners, redesign of the infrared passbands to be more optimally placed inside the atmospheric windows, and development of a method to ascertain the water vapor content of the atmosphere when the astronomical infrared measurements were being made. An Infrared Astronomy Working Group was formed to look into the matter. Advice and suggestions were solicited from the community at large. All who volunteered information became, de facto, members of the Working Group. A small subgroup composed of Andrew Young, Chris Stagg, and Milone set to work on the central of the recommendations: improvement of the passbands. Young, Milone, k Stagg (1994) (hereafter YMS) summarized the work: existing JHKLMN and Q infrared passbands were found to be both far from standardized, and all too frequently defined, to various degrees, by the water vapor and other components of the terrestrial atmosphere. Following extensive numerical simulations with a MODTRAN 3 terrestrial-atmospheres model package, and Kurucz stellar atmospheres, we suggested a set of improved infrared passbands designed explicitly to fit within, and not be defined by, the terrestrial atmospheric windows; however, we sought to optimize them so as to get the maximum throughput consistent with plausible limitations on precision of manufacture of the filters. In 1995 and again in 1997, a number of improvements were made in the code with which the improved passbands were designed. While they do not much affect the optimization trials and thus the passband recommendations, they have been used to extend the modeling.
Commission 6: Astronomical Telegrams: (Telegrammes Astronomiques)
Authors: West R. M. , Marsden B. G. , Aksnes K. , Nakano S. , Roemer E. , Marsden B. G. , Smithsonian  , Green D. W. E.
Published: July 2016

Throughout the triennium, Commission 6 has interacted with the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), most ably headed by Brian Marsden. As will be seen from his report below, the use by scientists of the Circulars for rapid dissemination of astronomical and related news continues unabated.
Commission 5. Documentation and Astronomical Data
Authors: Heintz W.D. , Wilkins G. A. , Hauck B. , Kleczek J. , Lantos P. , Mitton S. , Pecker J.-C. , Schmadel L. , Shcherbina-Samojlova I.
Published: July 2016

The range of activities of Commission 5 has considerably broadened over the last decade, compared with its originally bibliographical emphasis. This fact is also reflected in the new name of this Commission as adopted at the Montreal conference. The increased production of astronomical data, the growing role of data centers in the organisation and retrieval of information, as well as the editorial and bibliographic processing of the large number of primary papers have indicated the need for new and more efficient coordinative guidelines. Several documents have been published and are under consideration, or are in preparation, for the agenda at the IAU General Assembly in 1982.
20. Positions and Motions of Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites
Authors: Roemer E
Published: July 2016

An avalanche of discoveries pertaining to the satellite and ring systems of Jupiter and Saturn followed from the encounters of Pioneer 11 with Saturn, of Voyagers 1 and 2 with both Jupiter and Saturn, and from the passage of the Earth through the Saturn ring plane, all of which occurred during the triennium. The first comet discovery from a spacecraft also occurred during the same interval, a coronagraph experiment on the satellite P78-1 apparently catching a Kreutz sungrazer in the last hours before it impacted the Sun on 1979 August 30. Several successfully observed occultations of stars by the Uranian ring system, by minor planets, and possibly by satellites of Neptune and Pluto testify to efforts inspired by the Commission’s Working Group on Prediction of Occultations.
42. Close Binary Stars
Authors: Warner Brian
Published: July 2016

Interest in close binary stars continues to grow apace. Substantial fractions of the observing time on the International Ultraviolet Explorer and the various X-ray satellites have been devoted to extending our knowledge of a variety of interacting binaries. These, together with applications of novel ground-based techniques and the steady improvement of traditional methods, and developments in methods of analysis, have led to major advances in understanding of the properties and evolution of close binary stars.

Our Symposium Close Binary Stars held in Toronto, 7-10 August 1979, was attended by 170 participants from 26 countries and over 100 papers were presented. The proceedings have been published as IAU Symposium No. 88, Close Binary Stars: Observations and Interpretation, eds. M. Plavec, D.M. Popper and R.K. Ulrich; Reidel Publishing Co., 1980.
VIII. Theory of Flares
Authors: Priest E. R.
Published: July 2016

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory for the initiation and development of solar flares has developed considerably over the past 3 years and represents one of the liveliest areas of solar physics (Hood & Priest, 1981a, Priest 1983a, b, Schindler 1982, Van Hoven 1982, Syrovatskii et al. 1983). This has been stimulated by a thorough analysis of the Skylab observations and also by the startling new observations from the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM). In addition, the realization that flares appear to form two basic types, namely, small simple-loop flares and large two-ribbon flares, has focussed the imagination of theorists (e.g.. Priest 1981, 1982), even though reality may be somewhat more complex. In the former type, a single-loop structure brightens up and decays without moving; whereas in the latter, an active region filament erupts and then two ribbons of chromospheric emission form and separate, with an arcade of hot and cool loops joining them.
Commission 46: Teaching of Astronomy
Authors: Houziaux L. N. , Rigutti M. , Iwaniszewska C. , Kleczek J. , McNally D. , Wentzel D. G. , Kononovich E. , Gerbaldi M. , Robbins R. R. , Okoye S. E. , Sandqvist A. , Ferraz-Mello S.
Published: July 2016

The program has been continued thanks to the financial help of IAU, Unesco, and of local authorities. A school has been held in Lembang, Indonesia from May 16 to June 2, 1983, with students from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. The Local Organizing Committee, chaired by B. Hidayat was very efficient, and the school is considered to be one of the most successful held to date. Both teachers and students expressed their appreciation to the School Secretary, Dr J. Kleczek, and to the IAU Executive Committee. Another school, foreseen in Venezuela for September 1983, had to be cancelled due to the lack of support of the Venezuelan Research Council. There are plans to hold several schools during the 1985-1988 period.
3. Clusters of Galaxies
Authors: Einasto Jaan
Published: July 2016

Abell and Corwin (34.160.040) have continued the search of southern clusters on photographs taken with the U.K. Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring. A catalogue is in preparation, it continues the Abell catalogue toward southern declinations. West (32.160.019, 32.160.036, 34.160.044) has initiated a study of distant southern clusters with automatic identification of clusters and objective evaluation of their properties. Noonan (30.160.006) and Sarazin et al. (31.160.030) have listed clusters with published redshifts. Numerical simulations have demonstrated the presence of bias in observed clusters as difined by Abell (33.160.006), ranked absolute magnitudes of galaxies are distance dependent (33.160.081), some clusters may be due to projection effects (34.160.009).
Commission 9: Instruments and Techniques (Instruments Et Techniques)
Authors: Humphries C. M. , Davis J. , Bhattacharyya J. C. , Engvold O. , Fort B. P. , Ning-Sheng Hu , Livingston W. C. , Malin D. F. , Steshenko N. V. , Tuli R. G. , Walker G. A. H. , Wilcock W. L. , Wlérick G.
Published: July 2016

The technology leading to very large aperture telescopes and their optics has progressed well in the period since 1984 and plans for many new large aperture telescopes have been made. Focal plane instrumentation continues to become more sophisticated or more efficient: multi-object capabilities, automatic instrument control and operation, and increasing use of CCDs are examples of areas to which this applies. The proportion of time devoted to observations using two-dimensional photoelectronic detectors has grown substantially at many observatories, particularly with telescopes of moderate aperture; and the use of high quantum efficiency array detectors is now being extended into the infrared spectral region. Important advances have also been made in instrumentation and techniques for ground-based high angular resolution interferometry.
VI. The Sun as a Star
Authors: Cram L.E.
Published: July 2016

Studies of the global (spatially unresolved) output from the sun are important for two main reasons: (1) the global solar output directed towards the earth plays a central role in solar-terrestrial relations, and (2) global solar observations form a link between (neccessarily) global observations of stars and the more refined spatially resolved observations which are available for the sun. This report covers both aspects (insofar as they concern the sun), using the time-scales of various phenomena as a basic distinguishing characteristic. Note that certain studies of spatially unresolved solar output have not been discussed, since they are actually directed toward the investigation of phenomena of strictly limited spatial extent [e.g. radiospectrograph observations (e.g. Wiehl et al. 1985) and studies of X-ray bursts (e.g. Thomas et al. 1985)]. Collections of relevant papers may be found in De Jager and Svestka (1985) and Labonte et al. (1984), while a review of germane stellar work is available in Baliunas and Vaughan (1985) and solar-terrestrial work in Donnelly and Heath (1985). A comprehensive summary of the subject by Hudson will appear soon in Review of Geophysics and Planetary Physics.
Commission 38. Exchange of Astronomers (Echange Pes Astronomes) (Committee of the Executive Committee)
Authors: Müller Edith A. , Smith Francis Graham , Boyarchuk A.A. , Florsch A. , Kozai Y. , Leung K.CH. , Swarup G , Tolbert C.R. , Voigt H.H. , Wood F.B. , Shu-Hua Ye
Published: July 2016

The present report covers the period 1 February 1985 to 30 November 1987. During this period a total of 23 travel grants were awarded as follows:
Celestial Mechanics
Authors: Szebehely V.
Published: July 2016

This report is organized according to twelve subjects of interest in modern celestial mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the results of an exhaustive literature search in which assistance was received from several members of Commission 7. The impetus on celestial mechanics by space projects, by new observational techniques and by the use of high speed electronic computers continued to be of considerable importance. The fact that celestial mechanics became an experimental science is still too recent to be fully evaluated. The high accuracy of radar and laser observations, the new analytical and numerical techniques, the recent sophisticated statistical orbit determination methods and many other results achieved during the past three years suggest that celestial mechanics is an exploding field of science in which new and exciting results emerge. Celestial mechanics is influencing other fields of scientific endeavor and is intimately connected and embedded in almost all areas of modern astronomy and space research.
21. Light of the Night Sky
Authors: Dumont R.
Published: July 2016

L’afflux des résultats, évidemment lié aux techniques spatiales, améne à définir ici de façon plus stricte le champ de la Commission, en continuant d’ailleurs dans la tendance du rapport précédent: le terme “Lumière du Ciel Nocturne” ne s’applique plus qu’aux émissions et diffusions, de l’UV à I’IR, qui recouvrent la sphère cèleste entière. De plus, parmi les composantes telluriques, ne sont prises en consideration que celles dont l’obtention correcte de composantes astronomiques exige la connaissance. Les interpretations sont maintenues, surtout quant aux propriètès optiques des poussieres interplanètaires et interstellaires, mais il n’est plus possible d’inclure, entre autres, les observations non-optiques des grains interplanétaires, leur étude dynamique, ou le rayonnement IR du centre galactique.
50. Identification and Protection of Existing and Potential Observatory Sites
Authors: Cayrel R.
Published: July 2016

Whereas the identification of existing or potential observatory sites was an important part of the report for the first three years of existence of Commission 50, during the period 1976-78 the emphasis has been mostly on establishing recommendations for the protection of observing conditions.
V. Joint Meeting of Commissions 10, 11, 12 and 13 on the Outermost Layers of the Sun
Authors: Abetti G. , Migeotte M.
Published: July 2016

Minnaert explained the latest results on the measurements of the darkening at the sun’s limb obtained from plates taken with the Lick refractor in two different wavelengths.

UNSÖLD gave a new theory on the variation centre-limb of the intensity of the faint lines in the solar spectrum, and of the variations of the wings in the intense lines. He deduced a new law for the variation of the temperature near the limb. By means of this new theory it is possible to interpret the results of Miss Adam and Redman (published in the Memorie Società Astronomica Italiana, 20, 49, 1949).
Identification Atlases of Molecular Spectra
Authors: Nicholls Ralph W.
Published: July 2016

In astrophysics, as in all research fields in which molecular spectra play important roles, there has been a continuing need for compendia of information on individual band systems. Firstly there is a requirement by observers and experimenters for aids to definitive identification of observed spectral features. Secondly there are needs by observers, by those who make diagnostic interpretations of spectral profiles, and also by theorists, for definitive critical compilations of appropriate molecular data with reference to the relevant literature. The continued popularity of various editions to Pearse and Gaydon’s Identification of Molecular Spectra (1) and to Huber and Herzberg’s Constants of Diatomic Molecules (2) are clear evidence of this.
Commissions 3. (Notations.)
Authors: Schlesinger F. , Schilt J.
Published: July 2016

The first point on the agenda dealt with the standard equinox. The Chairman stated that this Committee had to give their opinion about this point as a consequence of a resolution by the General Assembly.

The Committee adopted the resolution, proposed by Dr Schlesinger, to use 1900 as standard equinox for all catalogues which are not catalogues of precision, and afterwards the year 2000.

In the second place, the Committee discussed the question of the abbreviations for the names of the constellations. The Chairman pointed out that there is a demand for 4-letter abbreviations to be used in cases where a maximum saving of space is not necessary. The proposed 4-letter abbreviations, however, are not intended to replace the 3-letter standard abbreviations as adopted in the meeting at Rome in 1922. Dr Schlesinger moved that the 4-letter abbreviations as used in his Catalogue of Bright Stars be adopted with a few exceptions. Dr Russell suggested a few other exceptions and the Committee finally approved of the following five exceptions: Arie, Cane, Dlph, Tria, and Tr Au, which will be used instead of the abbreviations in the Bright Star Catalogue. In all other cases the abbreviations as printed in the Bright Star Catalogue will be used.
Commission 18. (Longitudes.)
Authors: Perrier M. le Général , Lambert M. A.
Published: July 2016

Le Président rend hommage à la mémoire de son prédécesseur le Général Ferrié, dont le rôle de premier plan, dans les travaux de la Commission, est présent à tous les esprits, il rappelle aussi le souvenir de M. G. Bigourdan, disparu au cours de l’année. Les éloges de l’un et de l’autre ont été prononcés en séance plénière.

Le Rapport présenté à la Commission des Longitudes par son Président et son Secrétaire a été polycopié, puis distribué avant la séance à tous les membres présents à Cambridge, en même temps qu’un certain nombre de documents annexes. Aussi le Président se contente-t-il de rappeler les points essentiels du document qui traite de l’Opération mondiale des Longitudes à exécuter en octobre-novembre 1933.
Commission 20. (Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites.)
Authors: Leuschner A. O. , Wood H. E.
Published: July 2016

The President extended a welcome to Dr Kopff who was present at the meeting.

No formal report was presented to the Commission for adoption, but on the suggestion of the President the meeting discussed seriatim various proposals which had been brought forward by members of the Commission and which had been circulated.

(1) A proposal, emanating from Belgium, had been made for an improvement of the present plan for the distribution of observations and computations relating to minor planets and comets, with special reference to those which depart considerably from their ephemerides. The President expressed his opinion that the present arrangements, which were following a natural plan of evolution, were quite satisfactory and should be allowed to continue for some time. Dr Kopff agreed that further organization was at present unnecessary. No motion was taken on this proposal.
Commission 27. (Variable Stars.)
Authors: Shapley Harlow , de Roy M. Felix
Published: July 2016

The Draft Report was adopted without modification.

The following resolutions were referred to the General Assembly:

1.

The Commission recommends that the yearly subsidy granted by the Union to the Cracow Observatory for the publication of the Ephemerides of Eclipsing Binaries be continued (and increased) to the amount of 1000 gold francs.

2.

The Commission suggests that, in view of the urgent need for comparison stars for Variables, more especially those requiring international co-operation, a small sub-committee under Dr Shapley be empowered to canvass the needs of observers and to take steps to encourage systematic work on sequences.

3.

The Commission endorses the proposal made by Prof. Grouiller to compile a list of unpublished observations of Variable Stars, and recommends that this compilation be published by the Union.
Commission 30. (Radial Velocities.)
Authors: Plaskett J. S. , Harper W. E.
Published: July 2016

The Report as printed was discussed section by section. Section I being only a summary of progress was, with the correction of a typographical error, accepted.

Section III was discussed and, on the motion of Frost and Moore, a sub-committee was appointed by the Chairman consisting of Adams, Moore and Harper, to prepare a suitable list of standard velocity stars for the faint stars and to revise the previous list of standard velocity stars, omitting those now known or suspected to vary slightly in velocity.
Commission 34. (Solar Parallax.)
Authors: Schlesinger  , Horrock
Published: July 2016

In adopting the Draft Report as drawn up by the President of the Commission the meeting recorded its indebtedness to Dr Spencer Jones for his labour in framing it.

It was resolved to request the executive committee to make a grant of 2500 Swiss francs annually to the Solar Parallax Commission until the next meeting of the Union.

Prof. Kopff regretted that the results of the meridian observations made at Besançon and Rome could not be used in the formation of the Catalogue of Primary Reference Stars as these were received too late for inclusion.
Commission 35. (Stellar Constitution.)
Authors: Eddington Arthur , Russell H. N.
Published: July 2016

The report of the Chairman was approved and accepted as printed.
20. Commission Pour l’Observation des Positions et le Calcul des éphémérides des Petites Planètes, des Comètes, et des Satellites
Authors: Leuschner M. A. O. , Banachiewicz MM. , Brown  , Carrasco  , Comas Sola  , Comrie  , Crawford  , Crommelin  , Delporte  , Fabry L. , Fayet  , Heinrich  , Hirayama K. , Kamieński  , Kepiński  , Kopff  , Lagnila  , Michkovitch  , Noumerov  , Reinmuth  , Silva  , Stracke  , Strömgren E. , Van Biesbroeck  , Bilt Van der , Hansen Mlle Vinter , Volta MM. , Whipple  , Wood
Published: July 2016

In accordance with action taken by the Commission at the 1932 meeting of the Union, the President has taken steps to ascertain the general opinion of computers and observers in regard to the co-operation of the Nautical Almanac offices in furnishing data for the equinox of 1900. The question under discussion is that of the adoption of the standard equinox to which observations and elements should be referred, e.g. 1900, 1950, etc. The opinion is being ascertained through a questionnaire, the results of which will be reported at the meeting. In this connection Commission 4 proposes discussion of the following resolution in co-operation with Commission 20:

“That, as from 1938 January 1, the equinox used for expressing the elements of cometary orbits and for cometary ephemerides shall be that of 1950.0. Further that, as from the same date, the equinox used in giving observed positions of comets shall be that of 1950.0, unless the observer, for good reasons, used some other equinox and expressly draws attention to the equinox used.”
24. Commission des Parallaxes Stellaires et des Mouvements Propres
Authors: Mitchell M. S. A. , Adams MM. , Alden  , Bianchi  , Cecchini  , Davidson C. R. , Fox  , Harper  , Horrocks  , Jackson J. , Jones  , Jordan  , Knox-Shaw  , Lee  , Lindblad  , Lockyer  , Luyten  , Miller  , Moffitt  , Nechvíle  , Russell  , Schlesinger  , Shapley  , Slocum  , Smart  , Maanen van , Van Rhijn  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

In November 1934 the President circulated a letter to the members of the Commission as follows:

Since the 1932 meeting the following projects have been completed, or are nearing completion:

(1)

The publication of many lists of trigonometric parallaxes.

(2)

The determination of the spectroscopic parallaxes of 4179 stars at Mt Wilson Observatory by Adams, Joy and Humason.

(3)

A discussion of systematic errors of trigonometric parallaxes by van Maanen and a re-discussion in the Astrophysical Journal of the same material by Mitchell and by Sterne.

(4)

The compilation of a second Yale Catalogue to include parallaxes completed before the end of 1934.

(5)

Substantial progress on the proper motions of 32,000 stars by Boss and his associates at the Dudley Observatory.

(6)

The publication at the Radcliffe Observatory of the proper motions of 32,000 stars from photographs on 115 Selected Areas.

(7)

The completion of the dynamical parallaxes of 2000 stars.

(8)

The completion of the proper motions of 18,000 stars derived from parallax plates at the Leander McCormick Observatory.

(9)

The publication at the Yale Observatory of the proper motions of 40,000 stars with a probable error less than 0”.010 determined from photographs by re-observing in zones the Astronomische Gesellschaft stars.

(10)

The determination of the proper motions of 50,000 stars in the Southern Hemisphere by Luyten from Harvard photographs.
30. Commission des Vitesses Radiales Stellaires
Authors: Plaskett M. J. S. , Adams MM. , Campbell  , Frost  , Guthnick  , Harper  , Joy  , Moore J. H. , Neubauer  , Pearce  , Sanford  , Shajn  , Strave  , Young
Published: July 2016

The three years that have elapsed since the Harvard meeting of the Union have witnessed steady progress in the determination of radial velocities. While the three large Pacific Coast Observatories have naturally been able to make the greatest additions to radial velocity work, the Yerkes Observatory, the Simeiz Observatory and the Observatory of the University of Michigan have also made valuable contributions. It is a pleasure to report that there will soon be three major accessions to the list of observatories capable of determining radial velocities. The David Dunlap Observatory of the University of Toronto with its 74-inch telescope, which should be in operation soon after the meeting, will have radial velocities as a prominent feature of its programme. The McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas with an 80-inch telescope now under construction should be ready to commence operations in 1936 and will undertake an extensive radial velocity programme. The Radcliffe Observatory at Oxford has now been granted permission by the Courts to remove to Pretoria, South Africa, and will establish there a 74-inch reflecting telescope, which will also be largely employed in the determination of the urgently needed radial velocities of the southern stars fainter than 5.5 visual magnitude. The Commission may, I believe, congratulate itself that substantial assistance in the preliminary steps leading to this permission of removal was provided by our action at the last meeting in presenting a resolution to the Union, duly passed by the General Assembly, pointing out the urgent need for additional radial velocities in the southern sky, and strongly supporting the project of the Radcliffe Observatory to establish a large telescope at Pretoria.
Commission 10. (Sunspots and Character Figures.)
Authors: Brunner W. , Rodes L.
Published: July 2016

The President referred to a proposal by Dr Royds, given in the Draft Report, and supported in a letter by Dr Nicholson; after a short deliberation, on which the President and several members (D’Azambuja, da Costa Lobo, Butler, Evershed, Rodés) expressed their views, it was unanimously decided that, in order not to break the existing records, the present scale 0-5 should be retained limiting the interpolation to a half unit.
Commission 12. (Solar Radiation and Solar Spectroscopy.)
Authors: Abetti  , Minnaert M.
Published: July 2016

The Chairman referred with sorrow to the loss of Dr St John, the former President of the Commission, who died a few months before the meeting.

Solar radiation. The President suggested and Prof. Chapman agreed that it would be interesting to make investigations at high altitudes, especially at wave-lengths of about 2100 A.

Solar Spectroscopy. Prof. Russell said that the publication of new tables of the infra red solar spectrum would be delayed by the illnesses of Miss Moore and of Dr Babcock.
Commission 19. (Variation of Latitude.)
Authors: Lambert W. D. , Niethammer T.
Published: July 2016

Dans l’absence de M. Kimura, Président de la Commission, et de son remplaçant, M. Schlesinger, Président de l’Union, prit le fauteuil de présidence.

Il constata qu’il était maintenant nécessaire de considérer la question de transférer le siège du Bureau Central à cause de la mauvaise santé de M. Kimura. M. Tanakadate dit que le gouvernement japonais était prêt de continuer les subventions actuelles pour un an de plus, si l’Union le désirait.
Commission 23. (Carte Du Ciel.)
Authors: Esclangon M. E. , Paloque M. E.
Published: July 2016

M. le Président rend hommage à ceux de ses membres que la Commission a perdus depuis sa précédente réunion: son vénérable et eminent Président d’honneur Benjamin Baillaud, premier Président de l’Union; et Monsieur Gonnessiat qui fut Directeur de l’Observatoire d’Alger.

Il souhaite la bienvenue aux membres nouveaux: MM. Donner, Furuhjelm, Nangle, Paloque, H. H. Plaskett, Stein.

Il expose l’état d’avancement du Catalogue et de la Carte, fait ressortir que, malgré les progrès réalisés depuis la réunion de Cambridge, il reste encore beaucoup à faire et insiste sur l’importance qui s’attache à l’achèvement des travaux dans les délais les plus réduits.
33. Commission de la Statistique Stellaire
Authors: Lindblad M. B. , Bok MM. , Dziewulski  , Eddington  , Gratton  , Gyllenberg  , Heckmann  , Hertzsprung  , Hirayama S. , Kohlschütter A. , Lundmark  , Luyten  , Malmquist  , Mineur  , Mohr  , Ogorodnikov  , Oort  , Pannekoek  , Parvulesco  , Russell  , Schalén  , Schilt  , Schoenberg  , Seares  , Shapley  , Strömberg  , Trumpler  , van de Kamp  , Vanderlinden  , van Maanen  , van Rhijn  , von der Pahlen
Published: July 2016

The following report, which has been drawn up partly on the basis of the reports of the members of the Commission, touches briefly and without any attempt at completeness a few points of the recent developments in certain important fields falling within the domain of the Commission.
Final Session
Authors: Heckmann O.
Published: July 2016

The Chairman referred to the General Secretary’s motion made at the first session and put to the vote of the General Assembly the new Statutes and By-laws of the International Astronomical Union, as proposed by the Executive Committee. The Statutes and By-laws were adopted by show of hands of the official representatives of Adhering Organizations.
12. Radiation and Structure of the Solar Atmosphere
Authors: Gnevyshev M. N. , Athay R. G. , Delbouille L. , Michard R. , Minnaert M. , Müller E. A. , Pierce A. K. , Suemoto Z.
Published: July 2016

By action of the Executive Committee of IAU, the report for 1970 is restricted to half the length of the 1967 draft report; the bibliography and the abstracting of work already published are essentially eliminated. The report is no longer to serve primarily as a review of accomplishments between General Assemblies but rather as a report of work in progress. These changes were adopted by the Executive Committee in order to reduce the cost of publishing the reports.

Several commission members have voiced the opinion that the extensive bibliographies in past reports have been the most valuable contributions of the reports and they have objected to the elimination of the bibliography. Also, material from some observatories and from some national groups that have been submitted for inclusion in this draft report have contained only abstracts of work already published. The rules adopted by the Executive Committee do not permit the report to abstract published works except in evaluating general progress in solar astronomy. We express our regret to these commission members and to these institutions that we have not been able to include the abstracts and bibliography in the present report.
21. Light of the Night-Sky
Authors: Huruhata M. , Elsässer H. , Dufay (†) J. , Ingham M. F. , Lebedinskij (†) A. , Roach F. E. , Weill G. , Weinberg J. L.
Published: July 2016

Studies of airglow, zodiacal light, and galactic light in this triennium were almost as active as in the last. Results of observations obtained during and after the IQSY were the major contributions in this term. Night Airglow studies during the IQSY were widely reviewed in the Annals of the IQSY, vol. 4, in which the following articles are included:

“Night Airglow Observations during the IQSY” (F. E. Roach, L. L. Smith and J. R. McKennan);

“Airglow Research during and since the IQSY” (G. Weill);

“Hydrogen and Hydroxyl Emissions in the Nightglow” (N. N. Shefov and Yu. L. Truttse).

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, July 29-August 9,1968, entitled Atmospheric Emissions, contains some ten significant papers on airglow both in observations and interpretations. Many of them are referred to in the following sections.

Many stations have been engaged in airglow observations since the beginning of the IASY in 1969, although the number of stations seems to be a little less than during the IGY. Stations near the equator and in the southern hemisphere, however, are more numerous and active than during the IGY in response to the strong wishes of many airglow researchers. These efforts are being made especially by G. Weill’s group of France, V. J. Dachs’ and Lange-Hesse’s groups of Germany.
26. Étoiles Doubles
Authors: Couteau P. , Dommanget J. , Eggen O. J. , Kulikovsky P. , Muller P. , Strand K. Aa. , Van de Kamp P.
Published: July 2016

On constate que dans l’ensemble les observations classiques se font en quantité égale à celle de 1964 à 1967. Les observations photographiques sont plus nombreuses.

De nouvelles méthodes de mesure sont essayées et détectent des couples inaccessibles aux méthodes classiques. Nous citerons par exemple les observations photoélectriques d’occultation de binaires par la Lune (Rakos), les mesures d’intensité interférométrique par comptage de photons (Twiss). Dans les deux cas des séparations très inférieures à 0”01 sont mesurées. Ces travaux semblent ouvrir la voie à une génération nouvelle de moyens d’observations de binaires.
42. Photometric Double Stars
Authors: Wood Frank Bradshaw , Plavec M. , Batten A. H. , Herczeg T. , Kitamura M. , Larsson-Leander G. , Merrill J. E. , Cesevič V. P.
Published: July 2016

This report differs from earlier ones because financial limitations require the length to be half that of the preceding one. Thus, bibliographical lists are severely limited and it has not been possible to refer to all published papers or to much of the unpublished work. It is hoped that a more extensive mimeographed report will be available to commission members and others interested by the time of the 1970 General Assembly.

For invaluable aid in preparing this report, I am deeply indebted to Drs. Batten, Herczeg, Katherine Kron, Larsson-Leander, Merrill, Plavec, and Cesevič. Most of these wrote sections of the report which appear only slightly altered to prevent duplication or to take account of very recent developments. Since it was necessary to review more than 1400 papers which appeared during the three-year interval, obviously this could not have been written without extensive collaboration. I am especially indebted to Drs. Merrill and Plavec for consultation in the difficult choice of matters to be eliminated.
Commission 7: Celestial Mechanics (Mécanique Céleste)
Authors: Ferraz-Mello Sylvio
Published: July 2016

Since the last report, Commission 7 has supported IAU Symposium No. 172 “Dynamics, Ephemerides and Astrometry of the Solar System” (Paris, 1995) and co-supported IAU Colloquium No. 165 “Dynamics and Astrometry of Natural and Artificial Celestial Bodies” (Poznari, Poland, July 1996). During the 22nd General Assembly (The Hague, 1994), the Commission co-supported the joint discussions “Time scales: state of the art” and “Nutations” as well as the working group meeting “Near-Earth Objects Detection”.
6. On some unsolved questions in the theory of the
origin of the elements
Authors: Frank-kamenetsky D. A.
Published: July 2016

In the preceeding reports an elegant theory of the origin of the elements has been outlined. This theory aims to be a comprehensive one. With the exception of D, Li, Be, B, the origin of all other nuclides is explained by thermonuclear reactions and subsequent neutron capture. But some difficulties arise in connexion with two groups of nuclides: the iron peak and the by-passed nuclei.
Comparison of Hipparcos Proper-Motion System to the FK5
Authors: Zhu Zi , Jin Wenjing
Published: July 2016

We present an intensive analysis of the FK5 proper-motion system via the two large astrographic catalogs, the PPM and ACRS catalogs, compared with the Hipparcos proper motions. Regional, magnitude, and color-dependent systematic errors in the PPM and ACRS proper motions are found, and exhibit similar tendencies for both catalogs. The term of the global rotation between the FK5 and Hipparcos proper-motion systems cannot be explained by the constant of the FK5 precessional correction, which is given by the VLBI and LLR observations. Comparing the Hipparcos proper motions with those of the SPM 2.0 Catalog, which provides absolute proper motions of objects measured directly relative to external galaxies, we found neither strong systematic nor large regional errors between the two systems.
Stellar Kinematics from Hipparcos Proper Motions
Authors: Zhu Zi , Jin Wenjing
Published: July 2016

From Hipparcos proper motions, we have analyzed the local kinematics of the Milky Way from the young 0-B5 stars, classical Cepheids, and the late-type K-M giants. Comparing the derived results, the kinematical discrepancies between each subset of stars have been analyzed, and the possible reasons for the kinematical differences have been discussed.
Geodetic and Geophysical Applications of High Precision Astrometry
Authors: Wilson Clark R.
Published: July 2016

High precision astrometry has a long history of making fundamental contributions to geodesy and geophysics extending centuries into the past, and has provided the foundation for many exciting developments in geophysics in the last several decades. In the 1970s, geodetic VLBI and laser ranging provided the first direct measurement of plate tectonic deformation of the crust. These techniques have also revolutionized the study of Earth rotation by providing sufficient precision to measure climate variability, internal structure, and physical properties. Astrometry will continue to be important in a variety of geophysical problems because of its unique ability to determine Earth orientation relative to a stable celestial frame.
Estimation of EOP from VLBI: Direct Approach
Authors: Petrov L.
Published: July 2016

The currently adopted strategy of EOP estimation from VLBI is to estimate six parameters: UT1, UT1 rate, pole positions and nutation offsets for each 24-hour session independently. Then the resulting time series of raw Earth orientation parameters are filtered and a regression analysis is performed in order to obtain nutation coefficients, polhode of the pole and other physical parameters. Thus, the latter parameters are obtained indirectly in two stages. An alternative approach of direct estimation of the final Earth orientation parameters is presented. Pole coordinates and UT1 are considered as a sum of three components: the low-period component which is modeled by a cubic spline, the harmonic component which includes forced nutation, precession and sub-daily variations of EOP, and the stochastic component which is modeled by a linear spline with segment length 1-2 hours. All parameters are obtained in a single LSQ solution using all available data.
Time and Standards — An Overview
Authors: Guinot Bernard
Published: July 2016

After recalling current performances of time and frequency standards and their use to establish time scales, their limitations in astronomical observations and studies are considered. For expressing the value of almost all quantities, the accuracy of the frequency standards is sufficient. However, an improved stability could find applications in observation techniques and the departure of realized time scales with respect to their theoretical counterparts is not negligible for some studies. The paper recalls the basic rule of quantity calculus and advocates its use in spite of its inadequacy to express difference of readings of time scales. In general, adherence to the metrological practice and the use of the SI may facilitate our work and its understanding by the non-astronomers.
The Future of Space Astrometry
Authors: Johnston Kenneth J.
Published: July 2016

The future of space-based astrometric missions appears to be very promising. Three missions were described at IAU Colloquium 180. These are the Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME), the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) and the Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA) missions. These missions will substantially improve the accuracy of global astrometric measurements made by the Hipparcos space mission by factors of 20 to 250. A brief summary of these projects is given.
Variability Observations of a Complete Sample of Flat-Spectrum Radio Sources: Preliminary Results
Authors: Gorshkov A.G. , Konnikova V.K. , Mingaliev M.G.
Published: July 2016

This report presents preliminary results of daily observations, over 60 and 100 days, of a complete, flux-limited sample of radio sources with flat spectra. The existence of flicker up to 21.7 GHz was confirmed, for sources with flat spectra, on a time-scale of 4 days. A model explaining the flux density variations of the unique radio source 0524+034, on long and short time-scales, by an intrinsic mechanism is proposed.
The Microarcsecond Quasar J1819+3845: Polarization Observations and Detailed Lightcurve Analysis
Authors: de Bruyn A.G. , Dennett-Thorpe J.
Published: July 2016

The quasar J1819+3845 shows exceedingly rapid variations in both total intensity and linear polarization. These are attributed to interstellar scintillation. The source contains at least two structural components each of which shows variable polarization behaviour. The polarization variations are generally, but perhaps not always, coherent over the 80 MHz band setting. The 6 cm lightcurves in the first few months of 2000 hint at a time-asymmetric behaviour as could be expected from an asymmetric source structure.
Star Clusters as Exotic Star Factories
Authors: Hurley Jarrod R. , Shara Michael M. , Tout Christopher A.
Published: July 2016

In light of recent N-body simulations performed using the GRAPE-6 special-purpose hardware we discuss the role of the star cluster environment in producing unusual stellar populations and the possibility that stars labelled exotic in the solar neighbourhood may be commonplace within star clusters.