bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commission 19: Rotation of the Earth (Rotation De La Terre)
Authors: Klepczynski W. J , Feissel M. , Kolaczek B. , Barlier F. E , Brosche P. , Carter W. E , Djurovic D. M. , Muller I. I. , Rochester M. G. , Schultz B. F. , Vondrak J. , Wilkins G. A. , Yatskiv Ya. S. , Ye S. H. , Yokoyama K.
Published: July 2016

During the period, there have been several major events which have effected the scope and interest of Commission 19. The most significant of these has been the dissolution of the BIH and IPMS and their replacement by the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS). The correlation of higher frequency fluctuations in the Earth’s rotation rate with changes in the Earth’s Atmospheric Angular Momentum is also significant. Many investigators now seem to believe that the “decade variations„ in the Earth’s rotation rate are caused by torques between the core and mantle caused by the uneven motions at the core-mantle boundary. These events and discoveries have made this an exciting period. It seems that the future holds more in the way of discovery due to the utilization of the more accurate and precise Earth rotation data coming from the modern observing techniques.
31. Time (L’heure)
Authors: McCarthy D. D , Paquet P. , Aoki S. , Benavente J. , Blinov N. , Guinot B. , Herrmleb G. , Kovalevsky J. , Miao Y. , Mueller I. , Pilkington J. , Proverbio E. , Ye S.
Published: July 2016

The work of IAU Commission 31 members is contained mainly in the reports contributed by members and listed below. Unfortunately because of limitations in space, journal references to the work could not be listed. Readers interested in any of the topics mentioned in the reports are urged to contact those who have submitted that particular report for further information.

During the period from 1984 to 1987 the membership list of Commission 31 was revised to reflect new addresses and telephone numbers. Those listed as members previous to this period who were no longer concerned with Commission matters were deleted from membership. Members were also asked to submit their recommendations for future research in the area of time. The result of this poll was the formation of two working groups.
36. Theory of Stellar Atmospheres (Theorie Des Atmospheres Stellaires)
Authors: Kodaira K. , Gray D.F. , Cassinelli J.P. , Cram L.E. , Gustafsson B. , Hearn A.G. , Hubeny I. , Kalkofen W. , Kudritzki P.-P. , Mihalas D. , Seaton M.J. , Underhill A.B.
Published: July 2016

Commission 36 acted or acts as a sponsor or a cosponsor of the following Symposia and Colloquia.

(l)Symposium No. 122: “Circumstellar Matter”, Heidelberg, FRG (June 1986), (2)Symposium No. 132: “The Impact of Very High S/N Spectroscopy on Stellar Physics”, Paris, France (June 1987), (3)Colloquium No. 95: “Second Conference on Faint Blue Stars”, Tucson, AZ, USA (May 1987), (4)Colloquium No. 102: “UV and X-ray Spectroscopy of Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas”, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France (September 1987), (5) Colloquium No. 106: “Evolution of Peculiar Red Giant Stars”, Bloomington, IN, USA (July 1988), (6)Colloquium No. 108: “Atmospheric Diagnostics of Stellar Evolution: Chemical Peculiarity, Mass Loss and Explosion”, Tokyo, Japan (September 1987).
Commission 37: Star Clusters and Associations (Amas Stellaires Et Associations)
Authors: Heggie D.C. , Harris G.L.H. , Freeman K.C. , Hesser J.E. , Nissen P.E. , Pilachowski C. , Salukvadze G.N.
Published: July 2016

The last three years have been very productive for cluster research, especially now that observations with CCDs have become so routine. After a section on recent meetings, and one on data catalogues (by J.-C. Mermilliod), subsequent sections of this report go into details on individual topics: associations (P.E. Nissen), open clusters (G.L.H. Harris), globular clusters and cluster systems (R.E. White) and dynamical theory (D.C. Heggie).

The rapid growth in the volume of observational data has meant regrettably that the information has had to be tabulated in an even more compressed form than in earlier Reports. As in previous Reports, three-figure references are to Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts, and two-figure references to Physics Abstracts. Most entries cover publications from 1 July 1984 to 30 June 1987, but some exceptions are noted under the individual sections. For abbreviations see §6.
Primordial Nucleosynthesis
Authors: Audouze J.
Published: July 2016

Primordial nucleosynthesis which is responsible for the formation of the lightest elements (D, 3He, 4HE and 7Li) might be as important as the overall expansion of the Universe and the cosmic background radiation to prove the occurrence of a dense and hot phase for the Unvierse about 15 billion years ago. As recalled in many reviews (e.g. refs. 1, 2) the standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis leads to two important conclusions regarding (i) a limitation of the baryonic density such that the corresponding cosmological parameter ΩB ≤ 0.1; (ii) a limitation of the number of neutrino flavours to 3-4 consistent with the results concerning the widths of the Z0 and W± particles3.
Commission 49: The Interplanetary Plasma and the Heliosphere (Plasma Intsrplanetaire Et L’heliosphere)
Authors: Grzedzielski S. , Burlaga L.F.
Published: July 2016

The area of interest to the Commission includes:

1.

Solar wind composition and dynamics;

2.

Solar Interaction of solar wind with extended interplanetary sources of plasma and gases of non-solar origin;

3.

SolarStructure and dynamics of the three-dimensional heliosphere;

4.

SolarInteraction of heliosphere with the local interstellar medium.

The following reports summarize recent developments in the aforementioned fields.
51. Bioastronomy - Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Bioastronomie - Recherche De La Vie Dans L’univers
Authors: Drake F. D. , Marx George , Papagiannis N. D. , Brown R. D. , Connes P. , Gatewood G. D. , Jugaku J. , Feldman P. , Greenberg J. M. , Kardashev N. S. , Morrison P. , Troitsky V. S.
Published: July 2016

The past three years have seen not only a growth in the activities of our commission, but an extension of its activities into important areas which have heretofore motivated too little activity. Of particular interest have been the many activities directed towards elucidating the question of the abundance of extrasolar planetary systems. There have been a number of observations showing the presence of disks of dust around nearby stars, disks which fit the idea that stars are often formed with an accompanying disk of dust which may in many or perhaps all cases produce a planetary system. Infra-red evidence for dust disks exists for something like twenty stars. The disk of Beta Pictoris has even been clearly imaged at optical wavelengths, showing without a doubt that such disk structures exist. One very impressive detection of an apparent brown dwarf object has also been made; should this be confirmed by other observations, it would be clear evidence for the existence of planet-like bodies in the systems of other stars.
Commission 25. Stellar Photometry and Polarimetry Photometrie Et Polarimetrie Stellaires
Authors: McLean I.S.
Published: July 2016

Technology has continued to influence the methods of stellar photometry and polarimetry in the last triennium. For example, CCDs continue to displace photographic plates in stellar photometry and other detector systems for imaging and spectro-polarimetry, new array detectors for infrared wavelengths have revolutionised the way infrared photometry and polarimetry is done and small automatic telescopes and robotic observatories have experienced a remarkable growth period. The volume of data to be archived and transformed to “standard” systems has become immense and all the problems of inter-comparing different systems still remain.
42. Close Binary Stars (Etoiles Binaires Serrees)
Authors: Koch Robert H.
Published: July 2016

By the end of the XXth General Assembly in Baltimore, the number of Commission 42 members had increased to 305. Subsequently, D. Ya. Martynov has died and 11 new members have been added.

The last Draft Report showed a healthy rate of growth in citations of Sections 117 (Close Binaries), 119 (Eclipsing Binaries), and 120 (Spectroscopic Binaries) of Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts from 1982 through 1986. The number of these citations has continued the mean trend with 976 and 1015 references for 1987 and 1988, respectively. As the Past-President remarked, these counts are considerable underestimates of the total literature concerning close binaries (hereafter, CB’s). A personal appreciation of the total corpus of work is that quality remains very high and content has become much richer as more and more associations have been made with generalized stellar studies. In part, this may be traced to the everincreasing awareness by the general community of the experiments in stellar evolution which Nature runs in CB’s.
31.Time
Authors: Orte A
Published: July 2016

The scientific interest in Commission 31 topics and their applicability to new and practical fields is exponentially growing, pushing towards the recognition of new problems and subsequent research. In some cases as in Primary Standards the state of the art seems to be rather close to the actual and imagined needs. In other cases as in worldwide precise and accurate synchronization, we have to recognize that we still are far from the goals.
38. Exchange of Astronomers
Authors: MacRae Donald A.
Published: July 2016

During the period 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1978 the Commission awarded grants to the following eighteen astronomers to enable them to visit institutions in other countries.
5. Documentation and Astronomical Data: (Documentation Et Donnees Astronomiques)
Authors: Hauck B.
Published: July 2016

The restructuring of our commission, adopted at the last General Assembly, was undoubtedly beneficial and various activities were developed under the aegis of the commission.

Two very important changes have marked the last triennium: the World Wide Web and electronic publishing. The American Astronomical Society is the first to have introduced an electronic version of an astronomical journal and will be followed soon by the Astronomy and Astrophysics Journal. Last February, an ICSU/UNESCO Conference was held in Paris on this topic. A.G. Hearn was the IAU representative. An extensive report of this meeting can also be found on the Web (http://astro.fys.ruu.nl:8000/iau) and the proceedings are available also on the Web (http://www.lmcp.jussieu.fr/icsu/Information/index.html. A Joint Discussion on this very hot topic will be held during the Kyoto General Assembly.
8. Commission De L’Astronomie Meridienne
Authors: Morgan M. H. R.
Published: July 2016

The inability to obtain information about work in other countries, under present world conditions, necessarily makes this report incomplete. The conditions since the 1938 meeting have interfered seriously with major programmes of observation, and have delayed reductions, such that there are now several series of observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets, and many catalogues of stars awaiting final reduction and publication.

The Sun, Moon, and Planets. Fundamental observations of these objects and of the fundamental stars have been carried on regularly at Cape and Washington, and at Greenwich except for part of the time during the war. The Greenwich and Cape results 1925–44 have been reduced; and summaries of the results have been published in reports. The Washington series 1928–32 is published; the series 1925–40 is about reduced; and the series 1935–45 is to be printed this year.
11. Commission Des Phenomenes Chromospheriques Et De La Couronne Solaire
Authors: d’Azambuja M. L. , Lyot B.
Published: July 2016

La Commission vient d’être douloureusement éprouvée par la perte de son Président d’honneur, Henri Deslandres, décédé le 15 janvier 1948, dans sa 95me année. Son nom est et demeurera indissolublement lié à l’invention du spectrohéliographe et à la période de découvertes qui a suivi les premières réalisations de cet instrument. La Commission a perdu également le Père Luis Rodés, S.J., décédé le 7 juin 1939, à l’âge de 58 ans, au moment où il venait d’entreprendre la restauration de l’Observatoire de l’Ebre, qu’il dirigeait depuis 1919.
22. Commission Des Meteores, De La Lumiere Zodiacale Et Des Problemes Analogues
Authors: Whipple M. F. L.
Published: July 2016

The scope of this Report is to cover briefly the progress in the study of meteors and meteorites since the 1938 meeting of Commission 22. The Sub-Commission on the Zodiacal Light has been expanded to include also the Light of the Night Sky and is now presided over by M. Jean Dufay. The ever-increasing scientific interest in the problems of nocturnal radiations and the fascinating difficulties of interpretation promise an exciting future for research in these two observationally related fields. On the other hand, the present intensive interest in the earth’s upper atmosphere and in ionospheric research makes interpretation in any one field of research in Commission 22 even more dependent upon knowledge of results in the other fields. Hence it appears essential that Commission 22 and its sub-commission keep in close rapport and that a considerable overlapping of membership be maintained.
23. Commission De La Carte Du Ciel
Authors: Baillaud M. J.
Published: July 2016

La longue période écoulée depuis la dernière assemblée générale de l’Union Astronomique Internationale aurait dû marquer dans l’entreprise de la Carte du Ciel l’achèvement de l’œuvre décidée par l’ancien Comité Permanent et une reprise des travaux dans des voies nouvelles ouvertes par le développement de la Science. Dans sa réunion de 1938 la Commission avait examiné comment l’œuvre pourrait se continuer. Nous nous étions alors engagés à apporter à la réunion qui aurait dû se tenir en 1941 des projets précis, conformes aux échanges de vues qui avaient alors eu lieu. Les événements qui ont bouleversé le monde nous en ont empêchés. Ils ont imposé à trop d’entre nous de tout autres soucis que le développement désintéressé d’une œuvre scientifique de longue haleine, et ils ont empêché toute liaison suivie entre le président de la Commission et ses collègues. Nous n’avons pu jusqu’à présent recueillir sur le travail accompli dans les divers observatoires que des renseignements trop insuffisants pour rendre justice à tous. Nous nous excusons auprès de nos collègues et nous les prions de considérer le rapport actuel comme un rapport préliminaire que nous espérons compléter avant la réunion de Zürich.
25. Commission De Photometrie Stellaire
Authors: Hertzsprung M. E.
Published: July 2016

Since the last report of our Commission, now 10 years ago, there has been important progress in the development of photometric methods, notably the increase in sensitivity of the photoelectric cell. This improvement opens a wide field of useful work even with smaller instruments in the hands of skilled observers. As the cell can only deal with one object at a time, it is desirable that an increased number of instruments be adapted for this kind of work.

The photographic method, which is now antiquated in every case where the highest accuracy is required, will still maintain itself when the problem is to obtain approximate information about a large number of stars within a reasonable time and for the photometry of the very faintest stars which can be reached.
33. Commission De La Statistique Stellaire
Authors: Lindblad M. B.
Published: July 2016

Since the last meeting of the Union there has been considerable development in the field covered by the Commission, and the following report, which has been drawn up on the basis of reports by the members of the Commission, can only summarize very briefly some important lines of investigation in the recent development.

Photometry and Spectral Investigations in Various Regions of the Galaxy. In addition to the work in Kapteyn’s Selected Areas, systematic investigation is in progress for a great number of galactic regions, and it seems to be an urgent need that such investigations be co-ordinated as effectively as possible in the future.
35. Commission De La Constitution Des Etoiles
Authors: Russell M. H. N.
Published: July 2016

The study of the internal constitution of the stars has advanced rapidly in the past few years, especially for those of the main sequence. The present summary is necessarily brief.

For a star of uniform composition, whose interior is in radiative equilibrium, with or without a convective core, the constitution can be completely determined by successive approximations by quadratures, if there are given

(a)

the atomic composition

(b)

the equation of state, defining the mean molecular weight μ

(c)

the equation defining the opacity for the outflowing radiation

(d)

the equation defining the rate of liberation of energy per gram.
III. The Spectral Sequence and its Anomalies
Authors: Swings P. , Nassau J. J.
Published: July 2016

This report deals mainly with the study of spectra secured with a 4° objective prism attached to the 24–36-inch Schmidt-type telescope of the Warner and Swasey Observatory of the Case Institute of Technology. The dispersion at Hγ is 283 A./mm. Spectra obtained with a 2° objective prism will be dealt with briefly. We will consider first spectra secured by means of long exposures intended to be used for statistical studies; second, spectra of relatively short exposures for detailed study of individual stars and, third, infra-red spectra for the classification of low-temperature stars.
IV. The Abundances of the Chemical Elements in the Universe
Authors: Struve Otto , Swensson J. W. , Minnaert M.
Published: July 2016

The analysis of the Sun by spectroscopic methods refers to an exceedingly thin layer, just above the photosphere, which has a thickness of only a few hundreds of kilometers. The deeper layers are inaccessible to our investigations, because there the matter becomes too opaque. The higher layers of the chromosphere and the corona again are less well known, because they are too transparent, so that deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium conditions may occur. So it is understandable that just the layer where the equilibrium is nearly established must be the only layer which can be fully investigated. Probably this is the best analysed sample of the universe. Whether the composition here found is really representative for the Sun as a whole depends on the importance of the convection, which tends to stir the gases into one homogeneous mixture.
Extinction and Transformation: An Abstract
Authors: Young Andrew T.
Published: July 2016

The basic principles of heterochromatic extinction show that the approach used in the visible should not work well in the infrared, where molecular line absorption rather than continuous scattering dominates the extinction. Not only does this extinction change very rapidly with wavelength (so that stellar color becomes only weakly correlated with effective extinction), but also many of the lines are saturated (so that Forbe’s curve-of-growth effect is much more severe in the IR.) Furthermore, broadband IR colors are more undersampled than those in the visible, so aliasing errors make them correlate even less with extinction.
5. Commission des Analyses de Travaux et de Bibliographie
Authors: Stroobant M. P. , Bosler MM. , Brasch  , van Steenwijk De Vos , Dittrich  , Emanuelli  , Gabba  , Mascart  , Selga  , Shinjo
Published: July 2016

Dans la note qu’il a rédigée en vue de ce rapport, M. J. Mascart rappelle les résolutions prises à la réunion de Leyde en 1928 (Trans, of the I.A.U. 3, 1928, p. 300). Il signale qu’il a mis au point toutes les abréviations; pour les sources allemandes il est d’accord avec MM. Kopff et Neugebauer, ce résultat est d’autant plus important qu’en Allemagne il existe, pour les abréviations, une entente entre astronomes et physiciens. Mais il faudrait publier les abréviations et ensuite que les auteurs s’y conforment. En ce qui concerne les résolutions de Leyde, M. Mascart rappelle que (résolution 3) l’Union a conseillé aux auteurs de fournir eux-mêmes un bref résumé de leur travail, cet usage s’est développé mais n’est pas encore assez général.
9. Commission des Instruments Astronomiques
Authors: Fabry M. Ch. , Bianchi M. , Chandon Mme , Chrétien MM. , Couder  , Pluvinel de la Baume , Delvosal  , Hamy  , Merfield  , Moll  , Moreau  , Nechvíle  , Nušl  , Pease  , Ritchey  , Sampson  , Schilt  , Tinoco  , Van Heel
Published: July 2016

Matériaux. La fabrication de grands disques de quartz a été poursuivie aux États-Unis; mais aucun résultat n’a encore été communiqué à la Commission.

Mlle Clavier, de l’Observatoire de Paris, a étudié des miroirs en acier inoxydable, taillés, polis optiquement et argentés. Deux points d’ordre chimique restaient à élucider pour rendre pratique l’emploi de cette matière: (a) l’argenture, qui ne donnait jamais de couches bien régulières et adhérentes; (b) l’enlèvement de l’argent terni, en vue d’une argenture nouvelle.
18. Commission des Longitudes par Télégraphie Sans Fil
Authors: Perrier G. , Lambert M. A. , Bianchi MM. , Bowie  , Bowyer  , Carty  , Coculesco  , Lobo Da Costa , Deslandres  , Esclangon  , Fayet  , Fichot  , Hashimoto  , Iwanoff  , Jouaust  , Kohlschütter E. , Krassowski  , Lejay  , Littell  , Moreau  , Niethammer  , Nörlund  , Nušl  , Sampson  , Stewart  , Volta
Published: July 2016

Les premiers mots de ce Rapport seront un souvenir ému à la mémoire de notre regretté Président, le Général Ferrie, brutalement arraché, en pleine activité physique et intellectuelle, au respect et à l’affection de tous, le 16 février 1932. Il fut l’instigateur et l’animateur des travaux auxquels se consacre notre Commission. Nous ne saurions lui rendre de plus bel hommage—celui-là même qu’il eut souhaité sans doute—qu’en nous attachant à poursuivre, dans la voie qu’il avait tracée en 1926 et qu’il avait commencé de prolonger en vue des opérations de 1933, la mise au point d’une entreprise de haute portée scientifique et qui était au tout premier plan de ses préoccupations.
19. Commission de la Variation des Latitudes
Authors: Kimura M. H. , Bemporad MM. , Beneš  , Camera  , Dawson  , Dodwell  , Esclangon  , Hashimoto  , Jackson  , Jones  , Lambert W. D. , Littell  , Muller  , Nijland  , Peisino  , Schlesinger  , Stetson  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

The values given below are those published in every annual report of the international latitude work. Those for the first three years were calculated from the observed results in three stations, namely, Mizusawa, Carloforte and Ukiah, while that for the last year was from the results of four stations with one additional station, Kitab.
22. Commission des Etoiles Filantes
Authors: Olivier M. C. P. , Chant MM. , Davidson M. , Roy De , Dobson  , Fisher  , Flammarion Mme , Grouiller MM. , Hoffmeister  , King A. , Merrill  , Öpik  , Pickering W. H. , Svoboda  , Yamamoto
Published: July 2016

During the past four years the most important events in meteoric astronomy have been the good showers of the Leonids in 1930 and 1931. When these observations are added to the predictions based on computations of the perturbations, there is good reason to hope for an even better shower in 1932, perhaps rivalling that of 1866. As to the study of meteors in general, there has been an increasing revival of interest. Meteor Notes are now regular features of many scientific journals. Never before have so many people been working in this branch of science. A very brief outline of such activities follows.
29. Commission des Spectres Stellaires
Authors: Russell M. H. N. , Abetti MM. , Adams  , Baillaud J. , Bosler  , Cannon Mile , Deslandres MM. , Dingle  , Eddington  , Lindblad  , Lockyer  , Merrill  , Milne  , Payne Mile , Plaskett MM. H. H. , Plaskett J. S. , Rosseland  , Saha  , Tiercy  , Wright
Published: July 2016

Investigation of stellar spectra has been active during the last four years. Without attempting to make a complete survey, some important researches may be mentioned.

The theory of the intensities and contours of absorption lines has been discussed by Eddington, Milne, Pannekoek, Woolley, H. H. Plaskett, and others, and has proved to be difficult. For example, no quantitative theory has yet been developed for the residuai intensity which remains in even the strongest lines, although the physical causes underlying the formation of residual intensities are rather obvious. Study of solar lines with light which has left the surface at different angles shows that the processes which produce the wings and the centre are probably different. The most promising line of attack on this intricate problem appears to be in studies of the solar spectrum, where different regions of the disc may be separately investigated, rather than of integrated starlight. The highest dispersion available, even in solar work, will be none too great.
17. Commission de Nomenclature Lunaire
Authors: Dyson Frank , Adams M. , Blagg Mlle , Delmotte MM. , Jackson J. , Müller K. , Pickering  , Strömgren E. , Wright F. E.
Published: July 2016

At the meeting of the Commission in 1932 under the Presidency of Prof. E. W. Brown, it was resolved that the “Named Lunar Formations” presented in manuscript by Miss Blagg and Dr Müller should be printed and published. It is anticipated that the volume will be distributed before the meeting of the I.A.U. in Paris.

The reference maps prepared by Mr Wesley and Miss Blagg were not recommended for immediate publication. It was thought that they might be incorporated with the series of photographic maps in preparation by the Committee of the Carnegie Institution of Washington on Study of the Surface Features of the Moon. After correspondence with Dr Wright, however, it seemed better that the maps accompanying the “Named Lunar Formations” should be published with them. The Commission again expresses its great indebtedness to Miss Blagg and Dr Müller for their arduous and painstaking labour.
25. Commission de Photométrie Stellaire
Authors: Seares M. F. H. , Baade MM. , Baillaud J. , Bemporad A. , Bergstrand  , Danjon  , Graff  , Greaves  , Green W. K. , Guthnick  , Hassenstein  , Hellerich  , Hertzsprung  , Jones  , Lindblad  , Malmquist  , Pannekoek  , Gaposchkin Mme Payne , Ross MM. , Rougier  , Sampson  , Schilt  , Shapley  , Vanderlinden  , van Rhijn  , von Zeipel
Published: July 2016

The following summarizes the activities of various members of the Commission in matters pertaining to stellar photometry during the interval 1932-35:

La partie photométrique des trois derniers volumes du Catalogue Astrographique (zone de Catane entre +46° et +55°) est soigneusement dressée sur le système de Miss Leavitt (Harv. Annals, 81). L’erreur moyenne des grandeurs, d’après la réduction de 100 plaques (zones +51° à + 54°, entre 6h et I2h), n’est que de ± om.o8. Nos réductions photométriques ont été effectuées par la formule

D = a-bg+cg2-dg3,

où D dénote le diamètre de l’image photographique et G=8m+g dénote la grandeur de l’étoile.
29. Commission des Spectres Stellaires
Authors: Russell M. H. N. , Adams MM. , Beals  , Cannon Mile , Joy MM. , Kohlschütter A. , Lindblad  , Lockyer  , Merrill  , Milne  , Morgan  , Gaposchkin Mme Payne , Plaskett MM. H. H. , Plaskett J. S. , Redman  , Strave O. , Swings  , Wright W. H.
Published: July 2016

There has been a marked change in the past few years in the incidence of interest in stellar spectra. The great initial task of classification has attained its first objective—though the Henry Draper Extension, and other investigations are still progressing. Perhaps a million stars are still accessible to classification with existing instruments; but more and more time is being spent upon individual spectra, and upon theoretical investigations. In these fields progress has been very rapid, and only some of the more important results may be mentioned here.
Commission 4. (Ephemerides.)
Authors: Comrie L. J. , Kopff A.
Published: July 2016

A meeting with Commission 8 (Dr Jackson in the chair) was held to discuss two questions:

(a)

Which stars are to be used in future as fundamental stars?

(b)

What positions are to be used for these stars?

The two systems available are the General Catalogue of Boss, with about 32,000 stars, and the FK3 of the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, containing, with a supplement to be completed, 1535 stars.
Commission 20. (Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites)
Authors: Leuschner A. O. , Hansen J. M. Vinter
Published: July 2016

I. ‘Joint meeting of Commissions 6 and 20 on Thursday morning, July 11.

The cipher code for astronomical telegrams (relating to the description of objects and other matters) proposed by the President of Commission 6 (Prof. Strömgren) was discussed and accepted, with minor alterations. (See report Of meeting of Commission 6, page 289; also the cipher code adopted, page 391.)

2. Joint meeting of Commissions 4, 8 and 20 on Thursday afternoon, July 11. (See also reports of meetings of Commissions 4 and 8, pages 281 and 290.)

The proposals of Noumerov (Leningrad) and Brouwer for the determination of systematic corrections to star positions from observations of minor planets were discussed, and the following resolution passed for action by the General Assembly. “Commissions 4, 8 and 20 recommend that the programme of M. Noumerov for the determination of systematic corrections to star positions from observations of minor planets and the similar programme advanced by Mr Brouwer be encouraged as being of great importance, but that the formation of a subcommittee of one of the existing commissions or of an independent commission for the co-ordination of the two programmes and the promotion of international co-operation of observatories and planet institutes or almanac offices be deferred pending the outcome of the experimental stages of the two programmes.”
Commission 33. (Stellar Statistics.)
Authors: Lindblad B. , Schalén C.
Published: July 2016

A recommendation to the Union concerning the construction of certain tables was accepted.

A discussion was opened on the subject of collaboration in the study of open clusters. An application to the General Assembly was passed for a recommendation as follows: “That the Union call attention to the important problems connected with the open clusters and determinations of proper motions, radial velocities, magnitudes and spectra along the lines already inaugurated at several observatories.”

It was agreed that Dr Mineur should approach the observatories of the Carte du Ciel on the subject of photographing the open clusters for the future determinations of proper motions.
Commission 36. (Spectrophotometry.)
Authors: Plaskett H. H. , Redman R. O.
Published: July 2016

In view of the wide range of topics covered by the Commission, it was agreed that it would be desirable to press for the nomination of a new president for the Commission each three years.

Report

In a discussion of stellar “temperatures” (§ 2.1) Prof. Russell referred to the importance of “ excitation temperatures “, as determined from the ratio of numbers of atoms in two states of different energy in the atom. Dr Minnaert pointed out that this was essentially only a “ brightness temperature “ to which Prof. Russell agreed, but added that in this way “brightness temperatures” could be found for those stars for which no measures of angular diameter were available.
6. Commission des Télégrammes Astronomiques
Authors: Jones M. H. Spencer , Strömgren M. E. , Dawson MM. B. H. , Jackson J. , Shapley H.
Published: July 2016

From April 6,1935 (date of the last report) up to the present date (Feb. 26,1938) the Bureau has distributed 723 telegrams and published 174 circulars (Nos. 535-708).

The Bureau has again been supported by a great many colleagues and institutions.

As heretofore, the leading principle in our work has been as far as possible to procure provisional data for the continuous observation of new objects. The telegraphic service has been used when necessary to safeguard new discoveries, while in all cases possible the circulars have been depended on. Thus, as before, in dubious cases we have, to begin with, sent a telegram to a few correspondents only, asking for control. In cases of rediscovery of periodic comets and in other cases, when there was no risk of losing the object, we have distributed the announcement through the circulars.
12. Commission de la Radiation Solaire et de la Spectroscopic Solaire
Authors: Abetti M. G. , Abbot MM. , Babcock  , Carrasco P. , Carroll  , Chapman S. , d’Azambuja  , Dingle  , Evershed  , Lyot  , Menzel  , Milne  , Minnaert  , Pannekoek  , Perepelkin  , Pettit  , Plaskett H. H. , Russell  , Sekiguti  , Shane  , Sitterly Mme Moore , Stetson MM. , ten Braggencate  , Unsöld  , Woolley  , Yü
Published: July 2016

The Commission has suffered the heavy loss of Prof. W. Bernheimer, who was co-opted on to our Commission and whose work is well known and appreciated.

The following report touches the subjects of interest to this Commission as treated by the various members and is not an account more or less complete of the work done in them in the three years.
20. Commission des Positions et des Mouvements des Petites Planètes, des ComÈtes, et des Satellites
Authors: Leuschner M. A. O. , Noumerov M. B. , Arend MM. , Asplind  , Banachiewicz  , Boda  , Brouwer  , Carrasco R. , Comrie  , Crawford  , Crommelin  , de la Villemarqué  , Delporte  , Eckert  , Esclangon  , Fayet  , Giacobini  , Guth  , Hammond  , Heinrich  , Hinks  , Hirayama K. , Jones Spencer , Kamieński  , Kepiński  , Kobold  , Komendantov  , Kopff  , Lagrula  , Martin E. G. , Martin E. L. , Maxwell  , Michkovitch  , Nechvíle  , Neuymin G. , Perrine  , Reinmuth  , Schaumasse  , Schorr  , Silva  , Slocum  , Stracke  , Strömgren E. , van Biesbroeck  , Hansen Mlle Vinter , Volta MM. , Whipple  , Witt  , Wood
Published: July 2016

In view of the considerable ground covered by the Commission at its Paris meetings and the fairly complete record of the activities of institutes and observatories, etc. published in the Minutes, it has not been deemed profitable by the president to call for further reports in advance of the Stockholm meeting. At the Paris meeting it was agreed that such reports be printed independently before each meeting of the Union and that reprints of or references to the published reports be sent to the president. It is hoped that all such reports if ready will be made available before the Stockholm meeting so that they may be summarized by the representatives in attendance or by the president and recorded in the Minutes. With reference to the pronouncement at the Paris meeting “that it is eminently desirable that more attention be given to the development of accurate general perturbations and mean elements on the basis of accurate osculating elements”, the president has visited the Planeten-Institut at Frankfurt and the Rechen-Institut at Berlin and has been in correspondence with the Leningrad Institute. From these sources particularly valuable material has been received.
22. Commission des étoiles Filantes, de la Lumière Zodiacale et des Problèmes Analogues
Authors: Félix de Roy M. , Astapovich MM. , Boothroyd  , Bosler  , Bousfield  , Cabannes  , Cap  , Chant  , Davidson M. , Dobson  , Donitch N. , Dufay  , Elvey  , Fedynsky  , Flammarion Mme , Gatterer MM. , Grouiller  , Guth  , Hoffleit Mlle , Hoffmeister MM. , Housman  , Leonard  , Loreta  , McIntosh  , Millman  , Nielsen  , Olivier  , Öpik  , Prentice  , Rudaux  , Slipher V. M. , Svoboda  , Vandekerkhove  , Yamamoto
Published: July 2016

The Commission formed a Sub-Commission on Zodiacal Light, presided over by Prof. Issei Yamamoto. The constitution of a sub-commission on the light of the night sky and kindred phenomena was proposed, but left in abeyance, pending the Stockholm Meeting. Dr Jean Dufay kindly consented to write, at the president’s request, a paper on the present state of the problem of the light of the night sky, which is printed with this Report.
28. Commission des Nébuleuses et des Amas Stellaires
Authors: Shapley M. H. , Ambartsumian MM. , Baade  , Bowen  , Carpenter  , de Kerolyr  , Hogg Mme H. B. , Hubble MM. , Humason  , Lampland  , Lemaître  , Lindblad  , Lundmark  , Madwar  , Mineur  , Mohr Mlle J. , Parvulesco MM. , Reinmuth  , Reynolds  , Schaumasse  , Slipher V. M. , Stoy  , Trumpler  , Vanderlinden  , van Maanen  , Vyssotsky  , Wallenquist  , Wirtz  , Wright W. H. , Zanstra
Published: July 2016

During the past three years observational and theoretical work has been uncommonly extensive and fruitful in two of the fields within the interests of Commission 28—namely, the distribution of external galaxies and the analysis of diffuse nebulosity, the latter including interstellar absorbing material. Important work is also under way at a number of observatories in the interpretation of planetary nebulae. Studies of clusters, however, have been limited to a few active workers, and progress has not been rapid in the analysis of individual galaxies.
35. Commission de la Constitution des Étoiles
Authors: Eddington A. S. , Chandrasekhar MM. , Emden  , Fowler R. H. , Hagihara  , Jeans  , Milne  , Pannekoek  , Rosseland  , Russell  , Strömgren B. , Tiercy  , Vogt  , von Zeipel  , Woltjer
Published: July 2016

The Commission has found no opportunity of acting collectively in the last triennial period. Progress in the theoretical study of the constitution of the stars must be mainly a matter of individual effort; and it would be impracticable and undesirable to seek uniformity of views and methods.

A brief reference may here be made to some of the problems now especially engaging attention. In this connection I would call attention to a valuable Report on “Die Theorie des Sterninnern und die Entwicklung der Sterne” (Ergebnisse der exakten Naturwissenschaften, Bd. XVI, 1937) by a member of the Commission, B. Strömgren, which deals especially with progress in the last ten years, and shows very clearly the present state of the subject.
First Session
Authors: Heckmann Otto
Published: July 2016

1. Formal Opening. The President spoke a few words of welcome to the Members of the Union, invited participants and their guests, representatives of Adhering Countries, representatives of sister Unions and other organizations, and formally declared open the first session of the fourteenth General Assembly of the Union.
Problems of Extra-Galactic Research
Authors: Ambartsumian V. A.
Published: July 2016

The present report deals with the basic facts of extra-galactic astronomy. It should be noted that a true picture of the outer stellar systems (galaxies) was formed in astronomy only about forty years ago. As a result, most basic problems concerning the outer galaxies remain unresolved. We, therefore, formulate in the present report a number of problems which, in our view, seem to constitute the most essential points in the further exploration of the outer galaxies. We shall try to keep as close to the facts as possible and handle, primarily, those problems the solution of which may seem possible in the near future with the means available to us.
9. Instruments and Techniques
Authors: Rösch J. , Nikonov V. B. , Babcock H. W. , Baum W. A. , Giovanelli R. G. , McGee J. D. , Meinel A. B. , Mel’nikov O. A. , Valniček B.
Published: July 2016

Le présent rapport ressemblera peu à ceux présentés aux précédentes Assemblées Générales de l’Union; d’abord en raison des prescriptions du Comité Exécutif concernant la limitation du texte, la suppression des références bibliographiques et la latitude laissée au Président dans la conception même du Rapport; ensuite parce qu’il est apparu que la Commission 9 avait un rôle et une position assez différents de ceux de la plupart des autres Commissions et que l’un des points auxquels il convenait de s’attacher était précisément le re-modelage de son activité.

Toutefois, un certain nombre de membres de l’Union ayant bien voulu résumer l’activité de leurs Institutions ou de leurs pays dans le domaine de l’instrumentation astronomique, leurs contributions trouveront place dans le présent Rapport et fourniront ainsi aux membres de l’Union une information non exhaustive mais cependant des plus utiles, en attendant que soit mise au point une nouvelle forme de documentation.

Enfin, l’un des groupes de travail de la Commission - sur les Tubes à images - ayant poursuivi son travail de coordination et d’information comme par le passé, un rapport spécial sur son activité figurera à la suite du Rapport Général de la Commission 9.
Groupe de Travail Sur la Qualité des Images et le Choix des Sites
Authors: Rösch J.
Published: July 2016

Bien que ce groupe n’est pas été formellement dissous, on doit constater qu’à part une séance lors de l’Assemblée Générale de Hambourg, aucune activité dans le cadre de l’UAI ne s’est manifestée dans ce domaine depuis le Symposium No. 19, tenu à Rome en 1962. Cette réunion répondait à un besoin et le volume de ses Comptes-Rendus a suscité un intérêt certain. Mais au-delà, chacun des groupes intéressés à une prospection a organisé son travail selon ses propres conceptions, en fonction des conditions géographiques qui lui étaient fixées et des moyens matériels mis à sa disposition. Il en résulte que si les méthodes d’évaluation de la qualité des images ont été quelque peu passées au crible de la critique internationale, peu de progrès ont été faits dans le sens d’une comparaison significative à l’échelle mondiale entre des sites inclus dans des campagnes de prospection différentes. Force est bien de regretter ce non-aboutissement, tout en accordant aux responsables des divers opérations l’excuse du délai généralement limité qui leur est imparti, et l’impossibilité d’attendre la mise au point d’une normalisation internationale. Un “groupe interne” de la Commission 9, au sens défini dans la première partie de ce Rapport, pourrait se consacrer à cette importante question.
Groupe de Travail Sur l’Emploi en Astronomie des Récepteurs Photoélectriques d’Images
Authors: Wlerick G.
Published: July 2016

Un article de synthèse a été publié par Kent Ford en 1968 (1). De plus, le 4ème Symposium international sur les récepteurs photoélectriques d’images s’est tenu à Londres en Septembre 1968 et les comptes rendus des communications paraissent actuellement (2); il y sera fait référence par la mention (AE, page).

Il est espéré que les travaux omis involontairement et les développements nouveaux pourront être présentés lors des séances de la Commission 9 à Brighton.

Le rapport considère les trois types principaux de récepteurs: ceux qui emploient l’électronographie, ceux qui utilisent un écran fluorescent (convertisseurs d’images) et enfin les appareils de télévision.
Committee 3: Collision Cross Sections and Line Broadening
Authors: Seaton M. J.
Published: July 2016

Two review articles have been published (1,2).

1.1.Collision broadening by neutral atoms.The continued study of widths and shifts produced by neutral atom impacts at low densities has shown that the Van der Waals interaction ( — C6r−6)as used, for example, in (3), is an inadequate representation of the interatomic potential. The classical theory for a Leonard-Jones potential(C12r−12— C6r−6)has been developed (4) and subjected to experimental test (5). Further improvements result from introducing a term C8r−8in the potential (6) and from allowance for quasi-static effects (7). Applications to broadening by H—atom impact are discussed in (8).
20. Positions and Motions of Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites
Authors: Chebotarev G. A. , Edmondson F. K. , Arend S. , Herget P. , Hirose H. H. , Wood H. W.
Published: July 2016

The Report in the part dealing with the minor planets and satellites has been compiled at the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in collaboration of S. G. Makover (minor planets) and V. A. Shor (satellites). Contributions to this report have been received from S. Arend, H. Debehogne, J. Dommanget, P. Herget, S. Herrick, G. M. Jannini, B. G. Marsden, V. V. Michkovitch, B. Milet, Z. M. Pereyra, B. Popovič, E. Rabe, E. Roemer, J. Schubart, W. Strobel, C. Torres, H. Wood. The part on comets has been prepared by E. Roemer.

The main feature of minor planet research during this triennium has been the further application of modern electronic computing machines to the practice of computing. The time has gone when the computations of orbits and ephemerides were performed with the aid of logarithmic tables or with desk calculators. Therefore it is no wonder that all computational work in the field of the motion of minor planets is nowadays concentrated in a limited number of institutions provided with powerful up-to-date computing techniques, like the following.

(1)

Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, Leningrad has used till recently a computer BESM-2 and now has at its disposal a new more powerful computer BESM-4.

(2)

The Observatory of Cincinnati has used till recently a powerful computer NORC. Unfortunately this machine has been nowadays dismantled, but the observatory can perform some kinds of computations with an IBM-360 computer.

(3)

Latvian State University, Riga, has made a large amount of computations with the computer BESM-2.

(4)

University of California, Los Angeles, makes a large amount of computations with its own computer.
25. Stellar Photometry
Authors: Cousins A. W. J. , Crawford D. L. , Argue A. N. , Golay M. , Hardie R. H. , Kron G. E. , Nikonov V. B. , Rybka E. , Stock J.
Published: July 2016

During the past three years there has been increased activity in many fields where photometric methods are employed; more telescopes have been commissioned or adapted for photometric measurements and new magnitude systems have been proposed and tried, but much of the observing is now of a routine nature. Most of this continues to be done in the wide-band UBV system, but more measurements are now being made in the red and infra-red.

More interest is being shown in narrower band-widths that emphasize particular features of a stellar spectrum, because these offer better prospects of separating the effects of temperature, luminosity, interstellar reddening, composition and duplicity. Attention has been given to finding the most useful bands and practical ways of measuring them, both photoelectrically and photographically.
Working Group for Research on Supernovae
Authors: Zwicky F.W.
Published: July 2016

By October 1966, the number of supernovae in extragalactic systems which had been definitely identified was 184. During the following three years an additional 70 supernovae were discovered, bringing the total number by July 1969 to 254.

The search for and the investigation of supernovae has been engaged in by an ever increasing number of observatories and astronomers, the majority of whom strongly support the continuation of the working group on supernovae and, until further notice, of the writer as its chairman.

Circular letter No. 9 was issued to the members of the working group in June 1968, giving data on the supernovae Nos. 171 to 216. A catalogue-monograph on the supernovae found since 1885 is in preparation and should be ready for presentation at the 1970 IAU Assembly. In the meantime K. Rudnicki and A. Karpowiczowa have announced that the manuscript of their catalogue of supernovae, including all major bibliographic data has been sent to the printer.

Two new approaches to the search for supernovae are in the first stages of realization, namely (a) automated searches by Professors Hynek and Colgate, the first having already resulted in 40000 bright galaxy reductions, the second being expected to start operation in the fall of 1969 and (b) the endeavours by J. Strong and F. Zwicky to have full-size objective gratings built for large (up to 50˝ apertures) Schmidt telescopes. With gratings of this type, supernovae to about mp = 16·5 may be discovered on single plates, the spectrum being observed at discovery.