bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4. Galaxy formation
Authors: Jones Bernard J. T.
Published: July 2016

This article surveys the literature from July 1981 to June 1984. It is neither possible nor desirable to refer to all papers on the subject, and accordingly only papers that are generally representative of some particular idea are explicitly mentioned. Galaxy Formation by its very nature has considerable overlap with other areas of cosmology such as the anisotropy of the cosmic background radiation, the question of the mass density of the universe, the nature of the large scale clustering, and detailed observations of galaxies. These are all topics covered by other reports to Commission 47 and the reader will therefore find only scant attention paid here to these important subjects.
5. Quasars and their evolution
Authors: Schmidt Maarten
Published: July 2016

In the past three years several surveys of optically selected quasars have been published. The Palomar Bright Quasar Survey (Schmift & Green 1983) covers 10,714 deg to a limiting magnitude varyinq with position in the sky, with an effective limiting magnitude B = 16.16. The survey lists 114 objects of which 92 are quasars with Mg < −23. All objects have redshifts less than 2.15 as they were selected for ultraviolet excess. Marshall et al. (1983) have extended the spectroscopic coverage of objects in the Braccesi field (AB) to B = 18.25. They also report first results in the deep Braccesi field (BF) to B = 19.2. Koo (1983) reports on a photometric and spectroscopic survey of quasars to B = 22.5 (see also Koo & Kron [1982]). The present state of quasar surveys is critically discussed by Smith (1983) in a very useful review.
Commission 51: Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Authors: Papagiannis M. D. , Drake F. D. , Kardashev N. S. , Brown R. D. , Connes P. , Gatewood G. D. , Goldberg L. , Jugaku J. , Marx G. , Pacini F. , Rees M. J. , Troitsky V. S.
Published: July 2016

The possibility that life, primitive or advanced, might exist in other places of the Universe has occupied the minds of scientists and lay-people for thousands of years. It is only in the last 25 years, however, that we have finally begun to search for answers to this profound question using experimental techniques. The goal of Astronomy is to understand the origin and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies and of the Universe as a whole. The appearance of life is an integral part of this whole process and our picture of the Universe will never be complete until we will comprehend also the significance of life in the process of Cosmic Evolution.
Commission 5: Documentation and Astronomical Data Documentation Et Donnees Astronomiques
Authors: Wilkins G. A. , Hauck B. , Dluzhnevskaya O. B. , Heintz W. D. , Jaschek C. O. , Lantos P. , Mitton S. , Spite F. , Wayman P. A. , Westerhout G. , Worley C. E.
Published: July 2016

The aims of this report are, firstly, to review the activities of Commission 5 during the period since the IAU General Assembly in Delhi in November 1985 and, secondly, to draw attention to other relevant activities. It is based mainly on contributions from the Chairmen of the working groups and other members of the Commission, but it also includes some items of general interest that have been taken from the Commission’s Newsletter. The Working Groups and their Chairmen are as follows:
7 - Mecanique Celeste (Celestial Mechanics)
Authors: Brumberg V. A. , Henrard J. , Batrakov Ju. V. , Bhatnagar K. B. , Chapront J. , Deprit A. , Ferraz-Mello S. , Hadjidemetriou J. D. , Kinoshita H. , Kovalevsky J. , Scholl H. , Seidelmann P. K. , Sinclair A. , Yi Z. H.
Published: July 2016

During 1985-1987 Celestial Mechanics has been intensively developed in all its branches embracing physical bases, mathematical aspects, computational techniques and astronomical objectives. Commission 7 has organized three IAU conferences: Symposium No. 114 “Relativity in Celestial Mechanics and Astrometry” (Leningrad, May 1985), Colloquium No. 96 “The Few Body Problem” (Turku, June 1987) and Topical Session “Resonances in the Solar System” of the X-th European Regional Astronomy Meeting (Prague, August 1987). Members of the commission have broadly participated in the NATO Advanced Study Institute “Long-Term Dynamical Behaviour of Natural and Artificial N-Body Systems” (Cortina d’Ampezzo, August 1987) and some other international and regional conferences. Prospects of the actual celestial mechanics investigations have been discussed at a session of Commission 7 at the XIX-th IAU General Assembly (New Delhi, November 1985). Three papers dealing with the unsolved problems of celestial mechanics were primarily addressed to the rising generation of celestial mechanicians (V. A. Brumberg and J. Kovalevsky, CM. 39, 133, 1986; P.K. Seidelmann, CM. 39, 141, 1986).
Commission 8: Positional Astronomy (Astronomie De Position)
Authors: Requième Y. , Miyamoto M. , Benevides-Soares P. , Duma D. , Helmer L. , Hugues J. , Lindegren L. , Ding-Jiang Luo , Noel F. , Pinigin G. , Quijano L. , Sadzakov S. , Schwan H. , Smith C. , Yoshizawa M.
Published: July 2016

The Commission deeply regrets the death of our colleague G. Teleki who passed away on February 1987.

After the retirement of T. Dambara, S. Lautsen and W. Gliese and the arrival of C. Turon-Lacarrieu as a new member, the membership of our commission is 142.
II. Spots and Intense Flux Tubes
Authors: Henoux J.C.
Published: July 2016

The development of research on starspots, stellar activity, and the suspected relationship between coronal heating and magnetic field have reenforced the interest of the study of the solar magnetic field and the study of the associated thermodynamic structures. Several proceedings of scientific meetings appeared from 1984 to 1987 (Measurements of Solar Vector Magnetic Fields, 1985 (I); The Hydrodynamics of the Sun, 1984 (II); High Resolution in Solar Physics, 1985 (III); Theoritical Problems in High Resolution Solar Physics, 1985 (IV); Small Scale Magnetic Flux Concentration in the Solar Atmosphere, 1986 (V)). The finding that the solar irradiance in affected by solar activity has renewed interest in photometry of sunspots and faculae. Sunspots have been used for investigating solar differential and meridional motions. Some results are also found in Section III.
V. Solar Maximun Analysis
Authors: Svestka Z.
Published: July 2016

The basic results of the SMA were presented and summarized in two SMA Symposia Proceedings, edited by Simon (1984 (I) we will refer to this publication using abbreviation SIM) and by De Jager and Svestka (1986, DJS (II)). Other papers discussing SMA results can be found in Proceedings of SMM Workshops (Kundu and Woodgate, 1986 - KAW (III); Poland, 1986 - POL (IV); Dennis et al., 1987 (DOK (V)) and three other meetings held at Kunming (De Jager and Chen Biao, 1985, JCB (VI)) Irkutsk (Stepanov and Obridko, 1986 (SAO (VII)) and Sacramento Peak (Neidig, 1986, NEI (VIII)). A summary of Soviet contributions to the SMA (until 1985) was prepared by Stepanov (in SAO, p. 5). Kindly note that this Section does not mention most of the SMA results that belong to the topics of the subsequent sections of this report: thus the SMA results of space observations should be found in Section VI, radio observations in Section VII, etc. The present report will be mostly limited to those results of the SMA which use or interpret optical ground-based data.
Commission 12: Radiation and Structure of the Solar Atmosphere (Radiation et Structure De L’atmosphere Solaire)
Authors: Kuperus M. , Harvey J.
Published: July 2016

Solar Physics has been traditionally divided into Structure and Radiation of the Solar Atmosphere (commission 12) and Solar Activity (commission 10). There has been increasing evidence that solar activity, which is basically of magnetic origin, occurs on a great variety of scales arid thus immediately touches upon the structure of the solar atmosphere as well as the structure and dynamics of the convection zone. As a consequence progress in the field of origin and evolution of solar magnetic fields from a large scale, ‘the dynamo’, to small scale is included in this report. In the past few years particular attention has been paid to the fact that the fluctuations in the magnetic field are much larger than the mean field and that the dynamo modes may be stochastically excited. The question whether there is a magnetic reservoir at the bottom of the convection zone still remains to be resolved. The interaction of the convection and the magnetic field resulting in an enhancement of the magnetic field in the intergranular lanes is studied by numerical modelling.
Working Group 2: Atomic Transition Probabilities
Authors: Wiese W. L.
Published: July 2016

The Data Center on Atomic Transition Probabilities at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, U.S.A. has continued its critical compilation work and maintains an up-to-date bibliographical data base. Work to revise and expand the existing NBS critical data compilations for the allowed and forbidden transitions in Fe-group elements, (Refs. A-D) has been completed. A single volume containing all these data for the Fe-group elements Sc to Ni is in press (Volume III of the NBS series of atomic transition probability tables) and is scheduled to be published in the near future, as a supplement to the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data.
Working Group 4: Line Broadening
Authors: Feautrier N.
Published: July 2016

There has been quite a renewal of interest in the field of line broadening during the last three years and the proceedings of the Eight International Conference on Spectral Line Shapes (1) showed the general state of progress of this topic. It is not the purpose of this report to be exhaustive, so we will simply give a number of useful results for astrophysical purposes and indicate some new fascinating directions in this research theme.
27. Variable Stars (Etoiles Variables)
Authors: Szeidl B. , Breger M. , Cox A. N. , Gershberg R. E. , Jerzykiewicz M. , Mavridis L. N. , Mirzoyan L. N. , Percy J. R. , Smith M. A. , Genderen A. M. van , Warner B.
Published: July 2016

The field of variable star research has become so broad and the amount of research to be reported on has grown so rapidly that it is a vain hope that a report of this kind, in a very limited space, could cover the whole field of research and could mention all the papers that have been published in the last three years. It is only hoped that this report presents the significant results achieved in the field of the most important aspects of variable star research. Some important subjects (e.g. cataclysmic variables) relevant to the variable star research are reviewed in the reports of other commissions. This is a consequence of the fact that the research has become very complex and the phenomena producing light variability belong to the field of interest of other commissions, too.
42. Close Binary Stars (Etoiles Binaires Serrees)
Authors: Smak J. , Koch R.H. , Abhyankar K.D. , Andersen J. , Batten A.H. , Budding E. , Cheredashchuk A.M. , Gibson D.M. , Kitamura M. , Kondo Y. , Leung K.-C. , Rahe J. , Rodono M. , Shaviv G.
Published: July 2016

During the XlXth General Assembly of the IAU in Delhi the number of members of Cotrmission 42 increased to 260. This simply reflects the growing interest and importance of our field. Growing is not only the number of astronomers involved in research on CBS but also the number of papers resulting from that activity. As an example one can quote the numbers of papers listed during the last few years in Sections 117 (Close Binaries), 119 (Eelipsing Binaries), and 120 (Spectroscopic Binaries) of theAstronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts:705(1982), 775(1983), 836(1984), 1080(1985), and 911(1986); note that many additional references could be added to these numbers from other sections. Naturally, such numbers alone do not reflect the quality and even less so the position and significance of the CBS field. Here one could perhaps mention an impressive record of successful research proposals involving requests for the observing time on large, ground based telescopes and on space instruments. Indeed, in spite of a very strong competition from other fields, programs involving CBS are usually placed very high on the priority lists (cf. Sections 2D and 2E). Obviously, the close binary systems, their evolution, and the physical processes which occur in them (accretion, stellar winds, nuclear burning, etc) appear interesting and important not only to those who are involved in their studies but also to astronomers from other fields.
5. Radioastronomy from Space
Authors: Boischot A.
Published: July 2016

Radioastronomy can use space technology either to go close to the source of the radioemission to increase the sensitivity of the observations and have different viewing geometry, or to avoid the effect of the Earth’s environment, i.e. to extend the useful frequency range below the ionospheric cut-off of a few megahertz and at submillimeter wavelengths. A third field which will certainly develop in the future is the use of space to increase the spatial resolution of radio-interferometry for imaging radiosources.
The Very Early Universe
Authors: Sato K.
Published: July 2016

In recent years, the research on the very early universe has shown quite remarkable developments. As is well known, this development was brought about by the introduction of the Grand Unified Theories (GUTs) into cosmology. These theories have not only enabled us to trace the evolution of the Universe back to the very early stage at temperatures of 1016 GeV or higher, but also introduced various new aspects into cosmology, such as baryogenesis, phase transitions and topological defects (monopoles, etc.). In particular, inflation, which grew out of the study of GUT phase transition, is the most important and fascinating outcome.
Commission N°48: High Energy Astrophysics (Astrophysique Des Hautes Energies)
Authors: Cesarsky C.J. , Sunyaev R.A. , Clark G.W. , Giacconi R. , Qu Vin-Yue , Salpeter E.E. , Scheuer P.A. , Schramm D.N. , Trimble V.L. , Truemper J. , Wolfendale A.V. , Woltjer L.
Published: July 2016

The european X-ray observatory (EXOSAT), which was launched in 1983 and which finished operations in April 1986, has brought a rich harvest of results in the period 1984-1987, surveyed here. The EXOSAT payload consisted of three sets of instruments: two low energy imaging telescopes (LE:E<2 KeV), a medium-energy experiment (ME:E=l-50KeV) and a gas scintillation proportional counter (GSPC:E=2-20KeV). Over most of the energy range covered, EXOSAT was not more sensitive than its predecessor, the american EINSTEIN satellite. But the EINSTEIN satellite is far from having exhausted the treasures of the X-ray sky. And EXOSAT, thanks to its elliptical 90-hour orbit, had the extra advantage of being able to make long, continuous observations of interesting objects, lasting up to 72 hours. Thus, EXOSAT was very well suited for variability studies, and many of its most important findings are in this area. EXOSAT observations sample a vide range of astrophysical sources: X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables and active stars; supernova remnants and the interstellar medium; active galactic nuclei, and clusters of galaxies. Among the highlights, let us mention:
Minor Ions in the solar Wind
Authors: Bochsler Peter
Published: July 2016

It has been recently recognized that the presence of ions heavier than hydrogen determines to a large extent the dynamics of the expanding solar corona. In the following I shall give a brief account of the most recent results related to minor ions (i.e. He and ions heavier than helium).
Commission 8: Positional Astronomy (Astronomie de Position)
Authors: Miyamoto M.
Published: July 2016

According to the recommendations of the Paris IAU Secretariat, the present triennial commission report is intended to put special emphasis on outstanding achievements around the main objectives of the commission rather than on abstracting all the literatures relevant to the commission. The highlights of the commission during the triennium under review have been the establishment of the conventional stellar reference frame FK5, an intensive effort in extension of the stellar reference frame to a celestial network of higher star densities and fainter magnitudes, and the launch of the astrometric satellite HIPPARCOS, as are described in this report.
Commission 9: Instruments and Techniques (Instruments et Techniques)
Authors: Davis John
Published: July 2016

The period covered by this report has seen significant progress in the development of the new generation of telescopes with apertures in the 8 m plus range. The period has encompassed the major construction phase of the 10 m Keck Telescope, witnessed the commissioning of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) New Technology Telescope and the approval of funding for the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). Significant progress has been achieved in developing the necessary technology for manufacturing and figuring large mirrors. There have been major expansions of activity in the areas of active control of telescope optics and adaptive optics, and in high angular resolution interferometry with several new groups entering both fields. The use of optical fibers, particularly in the area of multiple-object spectroscopy, has continued to grow. Several telescopes can now be operated remotely and the control systems of new telescopes are being designed to facilitate remote operation.
Commission 20: Positions and Motions of Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites (Positions et Mouvements des Petites Planetes, des Cometes et des Satellites)
Authors: West R. M.
Published: July 2016

The past triennium was characterized by important advances in several directions within the broad field of this Commission. Among the most exciting events were the Phobos 2 and Voyager 2 missions to Mars/Phobos and Neptune/Triton; their navigation was critically dependent on precise space- and ground-based observations as well as refined theoretical models of the motions in the solar system. Among many other achievements, the secular acceleration of Phobos was accurately measured and the dynamical analysis of the ring-like arcs at Neptune has just begun.
Plasma Processes in the Heliosphere
Authors: Verheest Frank
Published: July 2016

In this review a few plasma processes in the heliosphere are highlighted. Undoubtedly the major event from mid-1987 to mid-1990 was the Voyager 2 fly by of Neptune on 25 August 1989, of which results are now becoming available. However, most papers dealt with the processing and interpretation of the results from the fly by of Uranus (on 24 January 1986), as well as from earlier encounters with Jupiter and Saturn. Similarly, there continued to be great interest in results from the spacecraft missions to comets P/Giacobini-Zinner and P/Halley in 1985-1986. Mention should also be made of the Phobos missions to Mars and its satellites which yielded valuable scientific results, though unfortunately prematurely aborted. Of necessity, only recent literature will be cited, as these references include earlier ones.
22. Meteors and Interplanetary Dust
Authors: Halliday T.
Published: July 2016

This report follows its predecessor in attempting to review significant developments in the field rather than constituting an extensive bibliography. As before, several sections have each been contributed by one author and the President has combined these editorially and attempted to ensure that all major areas have been adequately covered. Thanks are due to individual scientists who responded to requests for information from the authors of sections, to the authors of each section for the care with which they prepared the material, and to Dr. A.N. Simonenko for her help in preparing a summary of recent work in the U.S.S.R. which was of great value in editing the individual sections. As before, references from Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts have been used when available.
46. Teaching of Astronomy
Authors: Kononovich E. V.
Published: July 2016

Commission 46 on Teaching of Astronomy is a Committee of the Executive Committee of the IAU. It was organized thanks to the initiative and great efforts of M.G.J. Minnaert in 196U during the 12th General Assembly of the IAU in Hamburg. Prof. E. Schatzman was the first President of the Commission. Since that time a great deal of work has been accomplished, a large amount of information has been gathered and certain efforts to organize a number of Projects have been made. The experience of the Commission and its Organizing Committee is the most precious result of its work. The benefit to the Commission is the result of hard work of the majority of its members very well known for their activity. Rules and guidelines of operation for Commission 46 were proposed and adopted at the 15th General Assembly of the IAU in Sydney. The main objective of the Commission is to further the development and improvement of astronomical education at all levels throughout the world. But this purpose outlined so generally gives no answer to the question what the Commission should do. The easiest way is in finding some routine and plausible work to accomplish. The results of such work can be immediately materialized in contrast to ideas and pieces of information which require a lot of work to have them brought into life. But in any case the indispensability of Commission 46 is stressed by (i) the increasing importance of astronomy in the world of civilized life and by (ii) contradiction between fundamental importance of astronomy to human progress and its poor representation in the world educational system.
6. Astronomical Telegrams (Telegrammes Astronomiques)
Authors: Marsden B. G.
Published: July 2016

During the triennium, Commission 6 continued to interact with the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) under the very effective directorship of Brian Marsden. A widening of the associated astronomical subjects recorded in the IAU Circulars was noted. There is no doubt that these Circulars continue to play an important role for the fast dissemination of astronomical information. The trend towards a preference for electronic distribution by the recipients cannot be overlooked.
Report of combined meeting of Commissions 8 (Meridian Astronomy), 19 (Variation Of Latitude) and 31 (Time), August 21. 9.30 a.m
Authors: Jones Harold Spencer
Published: July 2016

The President outlined the history of the Ross photographic zenith tube, saying that it was originally designed for measurement of the variation of latitude by Dr Ross, and later adapted to the determination of time by Dr Littel. The success of the instrument and its possible application to various problems in positional astronomy made it of interest to all three commissions attending the combined meeting.

Dr Schilt said that the zenith tube could not determine fundamental positions, but that it could determine fundamental proper motions in declination with a high degree of accuracy.
24. Commission Des Parallaxes Stellaires Et Des Mouvements Propres
Authors: Jackson M. J.
Published: July 2016

The determination of stellar parallaxes photographically using occulting shutters initiated by Schlesinger at Yerkes in 1903 and taken up vigorously at a number of observatories in the northern hemisphere about 1913 and in the southern hemisphere about 1925 has resulted in the determination of more than 9000 parallaxes relating to more than 5000 stars.

The position at the end of 1947 compared with that at the end of 1934 (as shown in I.A.U. Transactions, Vol. 5, 149) is approximately as follows, although for want of official figures some of the data are only estimates.
26. Commission Des Etoiles Doubles
Authors: van den Bos M. W. H.
Published: July 2016

The effect which the war has had on the progress of Astronomy in general, and of Double Star Astronomy in particular, cannot yet be reliably estimated, but we can already say that it is severe and will be felt for many years to come. Its least serious (because, we may hope, only temporary) aspect is the delay in the publication of observations. This effect may be mitigated if observers will communicate their unpublished results and forward reprints of their publications to the two central offices: Lick Observatory for declinations +90° to −30°, Union Observatory for −19° to −90°. If this be done, information supplied by these offices could include unpublished results.
27. Commission Des Etoiles Variables
Authors: Danjon M. A.
Published: July 2016

Nomenclature. Le Comité Exécutif réuni à Copenhague en mars 1946 a pris différentes décisions intéressant la Commission 27 (voir Circulaire VI, 2). La sous-commission chargée de la désignation des étoiles variables a publié les 42e et 43e listes, contenant respectivement 123 et 1051 variables dénommées. Ces listes avaient été préparées par Boris W. Kukarkin et Paul P. Parenago. Les règles adoptées sont énumérées dans l’Introduction de la 43e liste.
II. Infra-Red Spectrophotometry
Authors: Kuiper G. P.
Published: July 2016

The observations were made with a stellar spectrometer containing a Cashman PbS cell as receiver constructed in 1946 for the 82-inch telescope. The radiation is interrupted 1080 times per second; the small A.C. signal produced by the cell as a result of the fluctuating resistance and 90 V. D.C. voltage is amplified up to 30 million times, rectified, and recorded on a D.C. milliammeter.
Chapter II: Extraordinary General Assembly
Authors: Sahade J.
Published: July 2016

An Extraordinary General Assembly was held immediately preceding the first session of the General Assembly on 1988 August 2 to amend the Statutes of the Union to permit the election of a President-Elect to the Executive Committee and to institute a new category of adherence to the Union-Associate National Member status for countries in the process of developing astronomical activity.
4. Commission des Éphémérides
Authors: Brown M. E. W. , Comrie MM. , Cowell  , Lobo Da Costa , Eichelberger  , Fayet  , Fukumi  , Herrero  , Kopff  , Robertson  , Hansen Mile Vinter
Published: July 2016

On July 31, 1930, Commission 3 reported that the names of two stars to which two names are commonly given had been settled. These two stars are:

Gamma Scorpii = Sigma Librae

Upsilon Persei = 51 Andromedae

They have been fixed as in Libra and Andromeda respectively. In accordance with the suggestion of the Secretary of the Union, this report was communicated to the Directors of the Nautical Almanacs, no objection being raised by the members of the Commission.
6. Commission des Télégrammes Astronomiques
Authors: Strömgren M. E. , Dawson MM. , Dyson  , Shapley  , Wood
Published: July 2016

From June 8, 1928 (date of the last report) up to the present date the Bureau has distributed 813 telegrams and published 175 circulars (Nos. 207-381). In two periods the number of telegrams and circulars has been particularly great: the Pluto- and comet-period in the spring of 1930 and the asteroid- and comet-period in the spring of 1932.

Again the Bureau has 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. Following this line the telegraphic service has been used when necessary to secure new discoveries, while in all cases possible the circulars have been depended on. Thus, as before, in dubious cases we have to begin with sending 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.
14. Commission des Étalons de Longueur d’Onde et des Tables de Spectres Solaires
Authors: Fowler M. A. , Babcock MM. , Buisson  , Burns  , Carroll  , Evershed  , Fabry C. , Hamy  , Meggers  , Monk  , Nagaoka  , St John  , Saunders
Published: July 2016

In the 1928 report of this Commission, reference was made to differences in the specifications for the production of the red cadmium line adopted by the International Conference of Weights and Measures in 1927 and by the International Astronomical Union in 1925. The difference appears to have arisen mainly from the inadvertent adherence of the International Conference to the text of the provisional recommendation of the Commission on Wave-lengths (Tr. I.A.U. 2, 47) instead of to that finally adopted (p. 232).
28. Commission des Nébuleuses et des Amas Stellaires
Authors: Hubble M. E. P. , Bowen MM. , Jeans  , Knox-Shaw  , Lampland  , Lundmark Knut , Madwar  , Parvulesco  , Roberts Mme , Reynolds MM. , Shapley  , Slipher V. M. , Trumpler  , Vanderlinden  , Van Maanen  , Von Zeipel  , Wright W. H. , Zanstra
Published: July 2016

During the time elapsed since the last general assembly of the I.A.U., many activities have been pursued by the astronomers engaged in research work in the wide fields of problems concerning nebulae and clusters. In fact a number of important discoveries have been made and earlier work has been extended in a way to consolidate earlier views or revise them. The embarras de richesse in this field and the extremely short time available for the compilation of a report make it impossible to present anything else than a few short notes partly written by heart and only intended to express personal views on the question of how the research work on nebulae and clusters might be carried on.

The following report is mainly restricted to work done since the last meeting of the I.A.U., but in a few cases it has been necessary to mention earlier results.
5. Commission des Analyses de Travaux et de Bibliographie
Authors: Stroobant M. P. , Brasch MM. , de Vos van Steenwijk  , Dittrich  , Emanuelli  , Gabba  , Grouiller  , Kopff  , Lundmark  , Neubauer  , Neugebauer  , Pogo  , Selga  , Shinjo
Published: July 2016

M. Mascari a adressé, en vue des assemblées de Leyde (1928) et de Cambridge (Mass.) en 1932, un long rapport contenant les abréviations méthodiques (Transactions of the I. U.A . 3, pp. 19-39 et 4, pp. 21-2). M. Mascari a eu le regret de constater que beaucoup trop souvent, les auteurs ne font pas le plus léger effort pour lutter contre leurs habitudes et se soumettre à une discipline étroite.

M. Grouiller suggère que l’Union publie une liste des abréviations concernant les publications astronomiques proprement dites; quant à celles qui ne renferment que très occasionnellement de l’astronomie, on pourrait toujours rétablir les abréviations en se servant des listes d’abréviations générales déjà publiées par l’Union transactions of the I.U.A. 3, pp. 34-7). En ce qui concerne la bibliographie mensuelle, dirigée actuellement par M. le Comte de la Baume-Pluvinel, M. Grouiller est d’avis que la Commission adopte une motion d’approbation telle que la suivante: “La Commission a appris avec satisfaction la réunion en un seul organe des publications bibliographiques assurées par la Société astronomique de France et l’Association française d’observateurs d’étoiles variables. Elle recommande la continuation de cette publication contrôlée par une commission spéciale représentant ces deux Sociétés.”
9. Commission des Instruments Astronomiques
Authors: Fabry M. Ch. , Chrétien M. H. , Anderson MM. J. A. , Baillaud R. , Chandon Mme Ed. , Couder MM. , de la Baume Pluvinel A. , Delvosal  , d’Arturo Horn , Merfield  , Moll  , Nušl  , Pease  , Ritchey  , Sampson  , Schilt
Published: July 2016

La Commission n’a pas été informée de travaux particuliers importants concernant les matières d’optique. Il convient toutefois de mentionner dans cet ordre d’idées les résultats intéressants obtenus par application d’une pellicule d’aluminium comme surface réfléchissante, pour les miroirs astronomiques.

Le dépôt est fait par évaporation dans le vide et s’applique immédiatement aux miroirs en verre de petites dimensions. Pour les grandes surfaces, l’installation capable de résister à la pression atmosphérique peut présenter de grandes difficultés. Cependant, il a été possible de traiter ainsi, par exemple, le miroir de 90 cm. de diamètre de l’Observatoire de Lick. Plusieurs observatoires américains ont mis en service des miroirs aluminisés.
10. Commission des Taches Solaires et des Figures Caractéristiques Solaires
Authors: Brunner M. W. , Abetti MM. , Butler  , Chapman  , d’Azambuja  , Dufay  , Evershed  , Favaro  , Newall  , Newton  , Nicholson  , Perepelkin  , Pettit  , Rodés  , Rowland  , Royds  , Sekiguti  , Sotome  , Yamamoto
Published: July 2016

Mr Royds writes: “The original scheme for daily character figures called for integers ranging from 0—5 to characterise the solar activity for bright and dark flocculi. Since then it has appeared to some observatories to be desirable, particularly as the spot cycle has approached its minimum, to quote character figures intermediate between whole integers. Many observatories have introduced 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, etc., in addition to whole integers, whilst others have also used 0.2, 0.7, 1.2, etc. It seems to me that sufficient experience has now been gained to decide how far this subdivision between whole integers is to be carried. Kodaikanal would be willing to revert to the original proposal of whole integers on the scale 0.5. If it is considered desirable to interpolate half integers, I suggest that whole integers on the scale 0-10 would be easier to print and to read.”
13. Commission des Éclipses Solaires
Authors: Stratton M. , Curtis MM. , Danjon  , Davidson C. R. , Pluvinel de la Baume , Donitch  , Freundlich  , Gerasimovič  , Grotrian  , d’Arturo Horn , McNally  , Menzel  , Miller  , Minnaert  , Mitchell  , Moore J. H. , Oikawa  , Stetson  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

(i) 1936, June 19. The Eclipse Committees of Japan and the U.S.S.R. have been making preliminary meteorological studies of the weather conditions along the belt of totality in their respective countries. The Japanese Committee report (Bulldin, Kwasan Observatory, 283, 1934) that, while at the extreme east and west of their totality zone the weather prospects are unfavourable, for the central part, along the north-east coast of the island of Hokkaido, from Esasi to Monpetu and in a region round Syari the weather conditions are as good as in the best seasons of Tokyo and Kyoto in an ordinary year. A pamphlet giving all information is being prepared and will shortly be circulated in astronomical circles, but it may be mentioned that Monpetu and Syari are accessible by rail from the port of Otaru. There is electric current, 100 V, A.c., labour is readily available and accommodation will be possible for small parties.
22. Commission des étoiles Filantes
Authors: Olivier M. C. P. , Boothroyd MM. , Bosler  , Chant  , Davidson M. , De Roy  , Dobson  , Flammarion Mme , Grouiller MM. , Hoffmeister  , King A. , öpik  , Svoboda  , Yamamoto
Published: July 2016

The past few years have witnessed a great increase in the amount of work done on meteors and in the number of observers. At several observatories programmes of work have been undertaken in the hope of solving specific problems. Several countries now have flourishing meteor societies, or sections of larger astronomical societies, devoted to this field. To solve the problems that have arisen the help of other scientists, especially in physics, geology, and meteorology, has been enlisted to the mutual benefit of all. Historical research, particularly in Asia, has added much to our knowledge of meteor showers for the past thousand or more years.
32. Commission des “Selected Areas”
Authors: Van Rhijn M. , Adams MM. , Dyson  , Kohlschütter A. , Küstner  , Schlesinger  , Schwassmann  , Seares  , Shapley
Published: July 2016

The Plan of Selected Areas was suggested by the late Prof. J. C Kapteyn in 1906. The aim of the plan is to bring together, as far as possible, all the elements which seem most necessary for a successful attack on the problem of the structure of the sidereal world. The first, second and third reports on the progress of the plan were published by the Kapteyn Laboratory in 1909, 1910 and 1923 respectively, the fourth report appeared in Bulletin of the Astronomical Institutes of the Netherlands, No. 211, 1930. Many observatories and astronomers have co-operated on the plan and for the northern hemisphere most of the work has been finished or is now in progress.
Commission 3. (Notations.)
Authors: Strömgren E. , De Roy Felix
Published: July 2016

The President submitted to the Meeting, with some diffidence, the preliminary set of notations covering the whole field of astronomy, which he had prepared, and which had been printed in the Draft Report. It was, he said, a compromise between different systems of notations. He pointed to some misprints in the Draft Report and invited discussion.

Prof. Stroobant expressed his pleasure that the President had retained a number of the notations which he had presented at the Rome Meeting. While rendering homage to the completeness of the new scheme, he said that it had been submitted at too short a notice to allow a thorough discussion. He therefore proposed, at all events, to postpone a final decision.

Prof. Eddington and Prof. Russell agreed to this view, but emphasized the necessity of the new scheme being printed. They suggested some slight changes in a few of the proposed notations.
Commission 9. (Instruments.)
Authors: Fabry C. , Chretien H.
Published: July 2016

La Commission s’est réunie le lundi 15 juillet, et a tenu deux séances. La pre mière, le matin, de 10 heures à 11 h. ½ à la Maison de la Chimie; la seconde, à 21 heures, à l’Amphithéâtre de Physique, à la Sorbonne, conjointement avec la séance mensuelle des Réunions de l’Institut d’Optique.

A. Matériaux. Le Président rappelle à l’attention de la Commission, la question de l’aluminure des miroirs, et résume les principaux avantages que cette nouvelle technique va procurer à l’astronomie physique. Il semble bien que l’argenture des miroirs de verre ait vécue. D’autres supports que le verre peuvent maintenant être avantageusement employés, en particulier les métaux susceptibles d’un beau poli, mais dont le pouvoir réflecteur est trop faible. Par l’aluminure, on retrouvera le haut pouvoir réflecteur des surfaces fraîchement argentées, avec l’avantage d’une très grande stabilité et l’absence de transparence dans l’ultra-violet.
Commission 14. (Wave-Lengths.)
Authors: Fowler A. , Meggers W. F.
Published: July 2016

Prof. Fowler expressed regret at the absence of Messrs Babcock, Burns, Kayser and Nagaoka.

In opening the discussion on sources of the primary standard, Prof. Fowler presented the following extracts from a communication which had been forwarded by Mr Babcock:

“The preliminary specifications adopted by the I.A.U. in 1925 are a simplified description of the Michelson lamp, naming the conditions which were at that time considered necessary and sufficient by Prof. Fabry himself. Even by implication they do not suggest a substitute for the original lamp. It goes without saying that a vacuum tube provided with internal electrodes is not intended for use with high frequency, but rather with the customary well-known type of excitation. In any case, before amending our specifications so as to prohibit high frequency excitation, at least three laboratories should agree that this is necessary.”
Commission 22. (Meteors.)
Authors: De Roy Felix , Flammarion Mme G. Camille
Published: July 2016

The Commission first took up the question of the inclusion in their subjects of the Zodiacal Light and related phenomena, and in particular the brightness of the night sky, which had been referred to them by the General Assembly. After some discussion, the following resolution, proposed by the acting President, and seconded by Dr Bosler, was adopted: 1. While, in conformity with the motion voted by them at the Harvard Meeting (Transactions, 4, p. 245), this Commission still consider that it is not desirable that Comets should be added to their subjects, they suggest that, since several of theirmembers, active in the field of meteors, are also working on the problem of Zodiacal Light, the latter subject, and related phenomena, might be handled by a Sub-Committee of Commission 22.
Commission 24. (Parallax and Proper Motions.)
Authors: Mitchell S. A. , Smart W. M.
Published: July 2016

The Commission held two sessions. At the first session there was an interesting discussion in which the majority of the eighteen members of the Commission present participated.

The second session was given over to stellar parallaxes. Dr Adams described the methods followed at Mt Wilson in deriving the spectroscopic parallaxes of 4179 stars and Dr Schlesinger explained the methods for deriving the values given in the Second Yale Catalogue. Parallax programmes were discussed by various observers.
Commission 26. (Double Stars.)
Authors: Hertzsprung E. , Van Den Bos W. H.
Published: July 2016

The President read the draft report. No objections being entered, this was adopted by the meeting.

The President proposed an addition to the report. This was agreed to.

The adoption of a single system of orbital elements was advocated by van den Bos, who reported on the correspondence which had taken place on this subject with the members. As the result of all answers received, a system of elements was proposed and adopted by the Committee.

The President suggested that this be given in the report and van den Bos, at the request of van Biesbroeck, proposed that a full set of definitions and formulae be added. This was agreed to.
Commission 27. (Variable Stars.)
Authors: Nijland A. A. , Roy Felix De
Published: July 2016

The draft report was discussed, and adopted with some alterations and additions. The following resolutions were referred to the General Assembly:

1.

The Commission recommends that the yearly subsidy granted by the Union for the publication of the Cracow Ephemerides of Eclipsing Binaries (Prof. T. Banachiewicz) be continued to the amount of 700 gold francs, and expresses the wish that the decimal division of the day used in these ephemerides will be, in the future, counted from Greenwich Noon.

2.

The Union having endorsed the proposal made by Prof. Grouiller to compile a list of unpublished observations of Variable Stars, and recommended that this compilation be published by the Union, the Commission recommends that a subsidy of 200 gold francs should be granted to that object.

3.

The Commission recommends that Prof. Nijland’s Lists A, B, and C, brought up to date, together with a new list D, should be published by the Union with a subsidy not exceeding 300 gold francs.
Commission 31. (Bureau De l’heure.)
Authors: Nörlund N. E. , Lambert M. A. , Jolly M. H. L. P.
Published: July 2016

M. le Président fait connaître que, à la suite du concours financier apporté au B.I.H. par l’Union internationale de Géodésie et Géophysique à partir du 1er janvier 1933, la Commission 31 s’est transformée en une commission mixte, et aux membres appartenant à l’Union astronomique se sont donc ajoutés des membres de l’Union de Géodésie et Géophysique.

M. le Président a examiné les comptes du Bureau international de l’Heure pour les années 1932 à 1934 et a reconnu que les règlements ont été respectés; les revenus ont été en 1932 de 55773.50 fr.; en 1933 la subvention de l’Union astronomique a été de 39487.30 fr. français; et celle de l’Union de Géodésie et Géophysique de 19980.80 fr. français. En 1934 les subventions ont été respectivement de 39424 fr. et de 20000 fr.
Commission 34. (Solar Parallax.)
Authors: Jones Spencer , Slocum F.
Published: July 2016

The President first summarized the present position of the work of determining the solar parallax as given in the Report.

In connection with the determination of the positions of the reference stars it was stated that within the next six months or so the reductions of all the series of photographs will be completed and it will then be possible to co-ordinate the results and publish a definitive list of secondary comparison stars. At the same time it has become apparent that there are appreciable errors in the positions based on the meridian observations of some of the primary stars given in Prof. Kopff’s catalogue. By co-ordinating the measures of the several series of path plates it will be possible to derive corrections to the positions of the Kopff stars, which will still keep them on the system adopted by Prof. Kopff, but will improve their homogeneity.
Commission 35. (Stellar Constitution.)
Authors: Eddington Arthur , Russell H. N.
Published: July 2016

The Commission spent an hour in a general discussion of problems of stellar constitution. The report as printed was unanimously adopted.
9 Commission des Instruments Astronomiques
Authors: Fabry M. Ch , Chrétien M. H. , Anderson MM. , Baillaud R. , Calder  , Chandon Mme , Couder MM. , Danjon  , Pluvinel de la Baume , Delvosal  , Dufay  , Horn d’Arturo  , Moll  , Ritchey  , Sampson  , Schilt  , Svoboda
Published: July 2016

La commission vient de perdre l’un de ses membres les plus actifs dans l’élaboration et la construction des instruments. Le Dr F. G. Pease est décédé le 7 février 1938, après une très courte maladie qui l’emporta en quelques jours.

Mme Ed. Chandon suggère que la commission étudie systématiquement, aux divers points de vues des observations astronomiques, l’œil, cet instrument auquel tous les autres aboutissent et aux imperfections duquel ils doivent remédier.

L’œil est un instrument multiple. Ses qualités photométriques et colorimétriques jouent un rôle fondamental dans les observations des étoiles variables. Comme instrument de coïncidences, l’astigmatisme qu’il peut présenter n’intervient pas de la même manière dans les observations des passages, dans les mesures des hauteurs, etc.
19. Commission de la Variation des Latitudes
Authors: Kimura M. , Jones M. H. Spencer , Carnera M. , Bemporad MM. G. , Berg  , Bianchi  , Burton H. E. , Castro H. , da Gama  , Dodwell  , Esclangon  , Lambert W. D. , Matukuma  , Niethammer  , Orlov  , Peres  , Schlesinger  , Schumann  , Sollenberger  , Stetson  , Stoyko  , Subbotin M. , Vocea  , Williams E. L.
Published: July 2016

In consequence of the decision made by the Fifth General Assembly of the I.A.U. I have been entrusted, from January 1936, with the direction of the Central Bureau for the International Service of Latitudes.

I am much indebted to Prof. Kimura, who preceded me as Director and to Prof. Kohlschütter, Director of the Geodetic Institute of Potsdam, for information and advice, which has been of great assistance to me; therefore I desire to acknowledge to them my deep gratitude.
10. Solar Activity
Authors: Švestka Z. , Jefferies J. T. , Kiepenheuer K. O. , Michard R. , Nagasawa S. , Newkirk G. , Rösch J. , Severnyj A. B. , Waldmeier M. , Fokker A. D.
Published: July 2016

The reader is kindly asked to consider this report for some sort of greatly unbalanced equilibrium between the pressure exercised by the steadily increasing flow of papers discussing the vastly extending subject of solar activity, and the equally steady pressure exercised by the editor who insists on having this report twice as short as three years ago. Therefore, some selection of the subjects and papers had to be made, a fairly severe one, since only about one third of all published papers could have been mentioned in the references, and I am well aware that almost everyone who will read the report, could suggest some improvement of the selection scheme. Nevertheless, I believe that the report as it stands, can fulfill its basic purpose, i.e. to give to the readers a general picture on the progress, which has been achieved in the field of solar activity research since the Prague meeting and on some of the research activities which are in progress at the present time.

It is a great pleasure to acknowledge the enormous help I have received from the authors of the individual sections of the Draft Report, as well as from many other members of the Commission, who have very kindly provided me, or the co-authors, with useful information on the recent progress of their work. It is necessary to add that some highly valuable comments made by V. Bumba, J. T. Jefferies, C. Sawyer, E. v. P. Smith, B. Valníček and J. M. Wilcox, have also been included in other chapters than those prepared by themselves.