bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
14. Fundamental Spectroscopic Data
Authors: Trefftz E. , Baird K.M. , Wiese W.L. , Sahal-Brechot S. , Burgess A. , Martin W.C. , Nicholls R.W.
Published: July 2016

The title of our Commission was last changed in 1964 from “Commission des Etalons de Longueur d’Onde et des Tables de Spectres” to the present title recognizing the broader scope of the Commission. This was initiated by new observing techniques and refined theoretical models. In 1966 it was decided to add two more objects to the work of the Commission: Broadening of spectral lines and collision cross sections. The present structure of the Commission dates back to 1970. Since then the work of the Commission is not well described by the name “Fundamental Spectroscopic Data”. This is a hindrance in the recruitment of new members, especially those who represent new fields of interest. But the answers to an enquiry about change of name were so divergent within our Commission that so far no action was taken.
15. Physical Study of Comets, Minor Planets and Meteorites
Authors: Richter N.B.
Published: July 2016

Comets, minor planets and meteorites provide us with valuable information about the past history of the solar system. They belong to the most primitive samples of the primordial solar nebula. Over the past years, we can record a considerable increase of interest in these bodies.
31. Commission De l’Heure
Authors: Sampson R. A.
Published: July 2016

A brief review of the present position will explain the questions which are named in the Agenda at the end of the Report, as proposed for discussion or notice at the forthcoming Assembly.

The most responsible part of the duties of the Commission is the general review of the work and outlay of funds by the Bureau de l’Heure. This obligation is expressed in the Regulations, as a Report from the Director of the Bureau (M. Bigourdan) to the President, and further in the approval of the Director’s estimate of expense by the President and the Commission. The Reports have been issued annually up to and including that for 1924, and the estimates for the Budget, including the current year, have been approved. The latter has not varied during the triennium. The duties incumbent on the Commission have, therefore, been performed. None the less, at the meetings of the Commission, opportunity will be offered for general comment in adjustment of policy on the occasion of preferring a request to the Union to renew for the next triennium the present subvention of 50,000 francs per annum.
General Assembly
Authors: Jones Harold Spencer
Published: July 2016

It is a great privilege for me to declare open the seventh General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. We are very grateful to our Swiss colleagues for the invitation to meet in Zürich in these delightful surroundings. We recognize that there are special difficulties at the present time in the organization of arrangements for a congress such as this. It has meant a great deal of hard work for the Local Committee, under Dr Waldmeier, and to them we express our thanks. Almost exactly ten years have passed since the last General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union terminated.
13. Commission Des Eclipses De Soleil
Authors: Mitchell S. A.
Published: July 2016

Since the date of the 1938 Stockholm meeting, there has been vast progress from eclipses both on the observational and the theoretical sides. In the interval there have been five total eclipses: 1940, October 1; 1941, September 21; 1944, January 25; 1945, July 9; and 1947, May 20. In spite of the war and of the ever-present enemy of eclipse observers, clouds, valuable observations were secured from each of the five eclipses.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to draw a line of delimitation between the work of Commission 13 (Eclipses) and of Commission 11 (Chromospheric Phenomena) and Commission 12 (Solar Radiation and the Solar Spectrum). Spectacular developments by the use of coronagraphs at the high-altitude stations in France, in Switzerland and in the United States (Harvard Station at 11,532 ft.) and also by the improved motion-picture techniques developed at the McMath-Hulbert and the Mt Wilson Observatories have made it possible for refined observations of prominences and of the corona to be made outside of a total eclipse.
17. Commission Du Mouvement Et De La Figure De La Lune
Authors: Banachiewicz T.
Published: July 2016

The discussions of observations of occultations have been published annually in the Astronomical Journal. The publication, dealing with the observations in the year 1942, which appeared in A. J. 51, 144–5 (1945), concludes the series of annual discussions made at the Yale Observatory. Beginning with the observations in the year 1943, the British Nautical Almanac Office has assumed the responsibility for the reduction and discussion of occultations of stars by the Moon.

A discussion of the Moon’s motion based upon about 5000 occultations in the eleven years, 1932–42, and about 1000 Washington meridian circle observations in the years 1933–44 was made by D. Brouwer and A. J. Watts, A. J. 52, 169–76 (1947). Both series were reduced to the FK3 system and corrections for limb error were applied, based upon Hayn’s charts. In the case of the occultations the tables by Watts, A. J. 48, 170 (1940), were used for a partial elimination of the systematic limb effect from the lunation solutions. The meridian circle observations were corrected individually.
29. Commission Des Spectres Stellaires
Authors: Struve M. O.
Published: July 2016

The Commission on Stellar Spectra records great progress in its field of investigation. We have reached the stage where a concerted attack can be made on two problems of fundamental importance which consciously or unconsciously have been the principal aim of stellar spectroscopists. The first is the problem of the abundances of the chemical elements in their relation to the question of nuclear transformations and the origin of the elements. The other is the problem of the origin of the stars and of their subsequent evolution.
30. Commission Des Vitesses Radiales Stellaires
Authors: Pearce M. J. A.
Published: July 2016

Since the last meeting of the Union, this Commission has lost two valued members, Dr W. E. Harper and Dr J. S. Plaskett, a past-President of this Commission. Both Harper and Plaskett made extensive contributions in the field of stellar radial velocities.

The recent war seriously hindered research at all observatories, many of the institutions carrying on with reduced staffs and greatly diminished resources. The most serious blow to the work of this Commission was the destruction of the Pulkova and Simeis Observatories. The sympathy of the Commission is extended to our Russian colleagues for the loss of their splendid equipment and the destruction of their accumulated photographs. The hope is expressed that their important spectroscopic researches, so tragically interrupted, may soon be resumed.
38. Commission Pour L’Echange Des Astronomes
Authors: Stratton M. F. J. M.
Published: July 2016

1. At the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Union held at Copenhagen in March 1946 the following resolutions were adopted:

(a)

That a standing Commission be appointed for facilitating the exchange of astronomers.

(b)

That the attention of U.N.E.S.C.O. be drawn to the existence of this Commission as an advisory body to whom U.N.E.S.C.O. could refer questions of the exchange of astronomers.
39. Commission Pour la Creation d’Observatoires Internationaux
Authors: Shapley M. H.
Published: July 2016

At this time (March 15, 1948), it is possible to make only a preliminary report on the development of the project of International Astronomical Observatories. Excellent discussions of the proposals, in response to an outline by the President of the Commission, have been received from Dr Ira Bowen and Dr Walter Baade (of Mount Wilson and Palomar); Sir Harold Spencer Jones (Greenwich); Dr R. O. Redman (Cambridge, England); Dr Otto Struve (Yerkes and McDonald); Dr Bertil Lindblad (Stockholm); Dr Enrique Gaviola (Córdoba); Dr M. Waldmeier (Zürich); Dr G. A. Shajn (Simeis); Dr Joseph Witkowski (Poznań); Dr B. Lyot (Paris). At my request Dr J. S. Paraskevopoulos, Superintendent of the Harvard South African Station, has reported on South African sites. All these reports should eventually be printed or at least fully summarized and mimeographed for the use of the International Astronomical Union. Of special value are Lyot’s consideration of atmospheric conditions; the arguments of Bowen, Baade, Spencer Jones, and others in favour of a modest beginning with provision for growth when needs and directions are clearer, and Witkowski’s reconsideration of our earlier plan for an International Observatory and Laboratories in southern Europe.
7. Commission de l’Astronomie Dynamique et des Tables Astronomiques
Authors: De Sitter M. , Angelitti MM. , Armellini  , Banachiewicz  , Brouwer  , Brown E. W. , Charlier  , Coculesco  , Fotheringham  , Hagiwara  , Heinrich  , Leuschner  , Merlin  , Peters J. , Sampson  , Strömgren E. , Von Zeipel
Published: July 2016

There do not appear to be at the present moment any problems in dynamical astronomy of which the solutions call for combined action and international organisation rather than private efforts of mathematicians. The only possible contents of a report of the commission under these circumstances would be a historical survey of the work done in the subject since the last meeting. I do not think that a review of this nature is the proper function of such a report. My conviction that the subject of dynamical astronomy does not at the present moment stand in need of international co-operation, has been strengthened by the fact that a circular letter sent to all members of the commission has elicited only two replies, one of which expressed doubt regarding the usefulness of international co-ordination of the subject, whilst the other intimated that the writer had no remarks to offer.
8. Commission de l’Astronomie Méridienne
Authors: Dyson Frank , Aiginitis MM. , Armellini  , Bemporad  , Boss  , Camera  , de Sitter  , Dneprovsky  , Dodwell  , Fayet  , Gonnessiat  , Gyllenberg  , Hins  , Jackson  , Jeffers  , Jones  , Kopff  , Lambert A. , Moreau  , Morgan  , Oom  , Perrine  , Stewart  , Zimmer
Published: July 2016

Since the last meeting of the International Astronomical Union, much attention has been given both in Germany and America to the systematic errors of the fundamental catalogues of Boss and Auwers. This is of special importance if the proper motions of any of the stars are to be used in the verification of the rotation in the plane of the Milky Way. The periodic errors in the proper motions, both in right ascension and declination, are of significance in this connection, while the motion of the equinox is required for the determination of precession, and the systematic correction to the proper motions of declination affects the position of the Solar Apex and the Vertices of the Star Streams.
12. Commission de Physique Solaire
Authors: John M. C. E.St , Abbot MM. , Abetti  , Anderson  , Bjerknes  , Bosler  , Brunner  , Butler  , Campbell W. W. , Carrasco  , Carroll  , Chapman  , Curtis  , Lobo Da Costa , Davidson C. R. , d’Azambuja  , Pluvinel de la Baume , Lury De , Deslandres  , Dingle  , Doniteli  , Evershed  , Favaro  , Fowler A. , Freundlich  , Hale  , Jimenez-Landi  , Lockyer  , Menzel  , Merfield Z. A. , Miller  , Milne  , Minnaert  , Mitchell  , Newall  , Newbegin  , Newton  , Nicholson  , O’Connor  , Pannekoek  , Pettit  , Plaskett H. H. , Rodés  , Royds  , Sampson  , Sekiguti  , Slocum  , Sotóme  , Stetson  , Stornier  , Stratton  , Unsold  , Van der Bilt
Published: July 2016

The president calls attention to the large and increasing membership of Commission 12 and the policy of concentrating in it all matters relating to the sun. The result makes it comparable in breadth of field and in membership to the former Union for Co-operation in Solar Research. The main point in favour of this policy is the increased interest in the meetings of the Commission and the larger number of individuals reached compared with the meetings of small committees. One recalls the general sessions of the Solar Union in which each one present felt himself a part of the Union and in real touch with the work of different sections and after the discussions went away with fuller knowledge of what it was all about. This was a valuable result not attained to the same degree from the general sessions of the present Union, but in a measure it does follow from the meetings of the Solar Physics Committee. On the other hand the question may be raised whether or not the merging of independent commissions into subdivisions of a large commission lessens their interest to an extent not balanced by the advantages. If the present policy holds, it seems to the president that a re-organisation of Commission 12 is advisable by which more responsibility is laid upon the directors of centres. The basis of membership in the Commission may well be considered and recommendations formulated for transmission to the Executive Committee.
16. Commission Pour les Observations Physiques des Planétes, des Cométes et des Satellites
Authors: Phillips T. E. R. , Andrea MM. , Antoniadi  , Armellini  , Baldet  , Campbell L. , Delporte  , Donitch  , Gastardi  , Harwood Mile , Jarry-Desloges MM. , Lampland  , Luplau-Janssen  , Lyot  , Maggini  , Mascari  , Nicholson  , Pickering W. H. , Quénisset  , Ross  , Slipher E. C. , Steavenson  , Stroobant  , Wright
Published: July 2016

The following works embodying researches coming within the scope of this Commission have been published since the last meeting of the Union:

1. “Recherches sur la polarisation de la lumière des planètes et de quelques substances terrestres,” by B. Lyot, Annales de l’Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon, 3, Fase. i. Characteristic curves are found representing the fraction of light polarized in the case of the Moon and several of the planets for the angles Sun-Moon or planet-Earth and compared with curves obtained in the laboratory for light reflected by a number of terrestrial substances. Some of the conclusions arrived at are referred to in the notes below.

2. La Planète Mars 1656-1929, by E. M. Antoniadi. This is based mainly on the author’s own telescopic observations with the 0.83 m. Meudon refractor in 1909 and the following years, and contains the author’s conclusions therefrom. The work of numerous earlier and contemporary observers is also summarized and compared with the Meudon observations.

3. The Moon, by W. Goodacre. Contains a description of the lunar surface formations, numerous drawings, charts and photographs, and the author’s revised Map of the Moon in 25 sections.

4. “Ricerche Polarigrafiche sui Pianeti. La Polarizzazione sul Disco di Giove,” by M. Maggini, Mem. della Soc. Astron. Italiana, 4.

5. La Constitution des Comètes, by F. Baldet. Paris, Hermann et Cie. 1930.

6. “ Halley’s Comet in its Apparition of 1909-1911,” by Nicholas T. Bobrovnikoff, Pub. of the Lick Observatory, 17, pt 11, 1931.

7. “Absorptionsspektren und Atmosphären der grossen Planeten,” by R. Wildt, Nach, von der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Math.-Phys. Klasse, 1932.
20. Commission Pour l’Observation des Positions et le Calcul des Éphémérides des Petites Planètes, des Comètes, et des Satellites
Authors: Leuschner M. A. O. , Aitken MM. , Banachiewicz  , Brown E. W. , Solâ Comas y , Crommelin  , Delporte  , Fabry L. , Fayet  , Heinrich  , Hirayama K. , Kamieński  , Kepiński  , Lagrula  , Merton  , Peters G. H. , Silva  , Strömgren E. , Biesbroeck Van , Bilt Van der , Volta  , Wood
Published: July 2016

In accordance with suggestions made by members of the Commission further consideration of the following topics is proposed:

(1)

Improvement of the present plan for distribution of observations and computations relating to minor planets and comets, with special reference to those which depart considerably from their ephemerides.

(2)

Designation of a central bureau to supervise any accepted plan for coordination of observations and computations. It is suggested that separate bureaus be established for Minor Planets and for Comets.

(3)

Systematic investigations of the orbits of the recently discovered objects designated as minor planets: Reinmuth 1932 HA, and Delporte 1932 EA1( and other objects of similar interest.

(4)

Financing of proposals (2) and (3).

(5)

Standard equinoxes as proposed by Comrie (1950.0) and by Bower (1900.0).

(6)

Designation of published residuals as observed residuals rather than referring to the epoch of the comparison star.

(7)

Greater adherence to the convention “That the dates used in giving the osculation epochs of elements for comets and minor planets shall be the midnight following an integral Julian date which is exactly divisible by 40, and for ephemerides, divisible by 8 (or 4, etc.),” to facilitate intercomparison of ephemerides and elements.

(8)

Inauguration of complete residuals of comets, similar to those of minor planets with provision for their continuation.

(9)

Inclusion in astronomical telegrams of some information of a descriptive nature to indicate the accuracy of the measured position, in confirmation of previous action.

(10)

Greater emphasis on accurate rather than on approximate positions, particularly in (9), or preliminary orbits.
26. Commission des Étoiles Doubles
Authors: Hertzsprung M. Ejnar , Aitken MM. , Armellini  , Dawson  , Espin  , Fox  , Giaccobini  , Innes  , Jackson  , King A. , Maggini  , Olivier  , Przybyllok  , Rabe  , Rossiter  , Russell  , Salet  , Van Biesbroeck  , Van den Bos  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

The most important event of the period elapsed since the last report of this Commission is the completion by R. G. Aitken of the Extension of Burnham’s General Catalogue of Double Stars. A description of this Extension was given in the report of 4 years ago. The Extension is now published and it is of invaluable help to everyone engaged in double star astronomy. We are all greatly indebted to Dr Aitken for the unselfish way in which he has devoted a large part of his time for the benefit of others.
Commission 4. (Ephemerides.)
Authors: Brown E. W. , Kopff A.
Published: July 2016

1. Miss Vinter Hansen’s proposal that the equation of time be given with the same sign in all almanacs was referred to the directors of the national ephemerides.

2. There was a discussion of the proposal by Dr L. J. Comrie that efforts be made to eliminate duplicate printing in the national ephemerides. It was moved and carried “That the question of duplicate printing be referred to the directors of the principal almanacs, and that they be requested to report at the next meeting of the Union.”

3. The possibility of adopting a uniform system for star positions was also referred to the directors.
Commission 5. (Bibliography.)
Authors: Bosler M. J. , Williams K.
Published: July 2016

M. Bosler in the absence of Prof. Stroobant, presented the President’s report as printed in the reports (pp. 21-23).

A resolution presented by Mr F. de Roy, on behalf of the Belgian National Committee of Astronomy, on the question of filling the gap between the Bibliographie générale of Houzeau and Lancaster (1880) and the Astronomischer Jahresbericht (1899) was endorsed and adopted.

The Commission further expressed a hope that Prof. Stroobant would be enabled to complete and publish his work of bringing the “Vade Mecum” of Houzeau (1882) up to the date of the Astronomischer Jahresbericht.
Commission 16. (Planets, Comets and Satellites.)
Authors: Phillips T. E. R. , Harwood M.
Published: July 2016

Two meetings of Commission 16 were held. The Commission met also with Commission 22 to confer concerning the advisability of transferring the Physical Observation of Comets to Commission 22. It was decided not to recommend any change.

The Draft Report was amended and approved.

It was voted that the President of the Commission appoint a secretary to circulate information or requests for co-operative work on comets. It was agreed that the President appoint a special committee from the members who are observers of Mars to consult on Martian nomenclature and to report recommendations to the next meeting of the International Astronomical Union.
Commission 17. (Lunar Nomenclature.)
Authors: Brown E. W. , Wright F. E.
Published: July 2016

The report of the President of the Commission was read and accepted without change.

On the motion of Sir Frank Dyson, seconded by Dr W. S. Adams, it was unanimously voted that:

“Commission 17 recommends to the Executive Committee that the list of designations for lunar formations agreed upon by the Commission (item 5 of the President’s report) be printed and that an appropriation not to exceed two hundred pounds be made for the purpose.
Commission19. (Variation of Latitude.)
Authors: Lambert W. D. , Schilt J.
Published: July 2016

Mr Lambert stated that the Committee was a mixed one, the members being appointed by the I.A.U. and by the Association de Géodésie and the present session would be considered as a meeting of the entire Committee.

In connection with Dr Kimura’s report the chairman recommended the resolution passed by the National Committee of Astronomy in Italy and moved that the Union should be asked to grant a small sum of money for the full publication of Kimura’s reductions of the international latitude observations. Mr Bowie suggested that at the present time such action involving expenditure should be delayed. Dr Schlesinger seconded the motion of the chairman and elucidated the Italian proposal. He read a cablegram from Dr Kimura stating the number of pages to be printed and the price. On the basis of these figures it was estimated that the total cost involved would be about five hundred dollars. The motion was carried unanimously.
Commission 25. (Photométrie Stellaire.)
Authors: Baillaud M. Jules , Payne Cecilia H.
Published: July 2016

The Committee expressed its appreciation of the value of the work done by Prof. Seares, while President of the Commission, in the direction of establishing the relations between various other catalogues and the International System.

The relations given by Prof. Seares, in the Draft Report, between the International System and the catalogues that have appeared during the last four years, form a new and very important contribution to this fundamental problem. But nothing in science can be definitive. The formulae given by Seares will be subject to modification by more extended discussion: they must be regarded as provisional; the Committee decided to place them in an appendix to the main report.
Commission 26. (Double Stars.)
Authors: Hertzsprung E. , Van Biesbroeck G.
Published: July 2016

It was agreed to send a message of congratulation to Dr R. G. Aitken on the occasion of the completion of the A .D.S., a copy of which was for inspection on the table of the chairman.

Aside from minor alterations and additions which were discussed in reading the Draft Report, the Committee adopted this report as printed and designated a subcommittee for the purpose of working out a short list of double stars situated between + 10° and − 10° declination for the investigation of personal errors. C. P. Olivier, who initiated this proposal, will act as chairman of the sub-committee, which will include R. G. Aitken, H. N. Russell, and G. Van Biesbroeck.
Commission 33. (Stellar Statistics.)
Authors: Oort J. H. , Lindblad B.
Published: July 2016

A few questions relating to the observing programme of parallax observers and to catalogues of proper motions for fainter stars were discussed and the following recommendations were passed:

(1)

“That parallax observers are requested to publish the basis of selection of the stars of their observing programmes.”

(2)

“That the authors of lists of large proper motions should give more attention to the problem of identifying difficult and interesting stars (for instance by sketches of the surroundings).”
3. Commission des Notations, des Unités et de l’économie des Publications
Authors: Strömgren M. E. , Bosler MM. , Chant  , De Vos van Steenwijk  , Grabowski  , d’Arturo Horn , Ludendorff  , Russell  , Schlesinger  , Stroobant
Published: July 2016

At the Cambridge meeting in 1932 the following resolutions of Commission 3 were adopted by the Union:

1.

Que l’équinoxe de 1900.0 soit adopté pour tous catalogues qui ne sont pas catalogues de précision et que quand on désirera plus tard de changer l’équinoxe celui de 2000.0 soit adopté.

2.

Que les abréviations (à 4 lettres) des noms des astérismes qui se trouvent dans le Catalogue of Bright Stars (Schlesinger) soient approuvées à l’exception de cinq astérismes qui seront représentés par Arie, Cane, Dlph, Tria, Tr Au (v. Trans. LA.U. 4, 221, 1932).

3.

Que la Commission favorise l’établissement d’une notation uniforme dans l’astronomie, à moins qu’il n’y ait pas de conflit avec de notations semblables dans les sciences alliées.

With the publication of the volume Délimitation Scientifique des Constellations and the Atlas Céleste, and the adoption of standard sets of three-letter abbreviations (Rome 1922) and four-letter abbreviations (Cambridge 1932) for the constellations, important work was brought to a close. The main task now before Commission 3 appears to be the working out and publication of a set of notations covering the whole field of astronomy.
4. Commission des Éphémérides
Authors: Comrie M. L. J. , Brouwer MM. , Brown  , Lobo Da Costa , Fayet  , Fukumi  , Hagihara  , Herrero  , Kopff  , Peters  , Robertson  , Volta
Published: July 2016

At the 1932 meeting three proposals before the Commission were referred to the directors of the national ephemerides (Trans. I.A.U. 4, 222, 282).

(1)

That the equation of time be given with the same sign in all almanacs.

(2)

The question of duplicate printing.

(3)

The possibility of adopting a uniform system for star positions.

Although the directors have discussed these by correspondence, they wish to take the opportunity of verbal discussion in Paris before presenting their final report. The proposal that duplicate printing of apparent places of stars should be eliminated has been favourably received. A joint meeting with Commission 8 is being arranged for the purpose of discussing the selection and positions of future fundamental stars; at present the general trend of opinion favours the adoption of the FK3 of the Berliner Jahrbuch.
8. Commission de l’Astronomie Méridienne
Authors: Jackson M. J. , Armellini MM. , Boss  , Camera  , Chandon Mme , Courvoisier MM. , da Gama  , Danjon  , Dneprovski  , Dyson  , Fayet  , Gyllenberg  , Hins  , Jeffers  , Jones  , Kopff  , Lambert A. , Moreau  , Morgan  , Schorr  , Stewart  , Zimmer
Published: July 2016

Since the last meeting of the Union, Sir Frank Dyson, who for forty years had devoted himself to the advancement of meridian astronomy, has resigned the position of president of the Commission. The Executive Committee have done me the honour of inviting me to fill the vacancy.

I have sent a circular letter to all members of the Commission asking for a report on the meridian astronomy being carried on in the institutions with which they are connected, and for suggestions of subjects which might be discussed in Paris. In some countries, particularly Germany and U.S.S.R., there are a number of observatories carrying on meridian astronomy but not represented on the Commission, and I have asked the representatives of these countries to send me details of the work of the various institutions in their countries. The following report is largely based on the replies I have received.
19. Commission de la Variation des Latitudes
Authors: Kimura M. , Aguilar MM. , Bemporad G. , Beneš  , Bianchi  , Burton  , Camera  , de Gama  , Dodwell  , Esclangon  , Hartmann  , Hashimoto  , Jackson J. , Jones  , Littell W. D.Lambert , Muller  , Nijland  , Perez  , Schlesinger  , Schumann  , Stetson  , Subbotin  , Voûte  , Williams
Published: July 2016

The values given below are those published in each annual report of the international latitude work. They were calculated from the observations at five stations, except the last part of 1934 which was made without Kitab, because the observation books from Kitab since November 1934 have arrived too late at the Central Bureau.
26. Commission des Étoiles Doubles
Authors: Hertzsprung M. E. , Aitken MM. , Dawson  , Finsen  , Giacobini  , Jackson J. , Maggini  , Olivier  , Przybyllok  , Rabe  , Rossiter  , Russell  , Van Biesbroeck  , Van den Bos  , Voûte  , Zagar
Published: July 2016

As double stars too close for photography must be discovered, before they can be observed, it is only natural to start a report about the progress made in double star astronomy during the last 3 years by mentioning the work done by Dr R. A. Rossiter with the Lamont 27-inch refractor at Bloemfontein. The first results have been published in a Ust numbering 2234 new pairs. Approximate positions are given, but as yet no measures are reported. These pairs are distributed as follows between different Umits of distance. For comparison the corresponding numbers for the 1900 discoveries, previously made by Dr W. H. van den Bos, are added.
31. Commission de l’Heure
Authors: Nörlund M. N. E. , Perrier G. , Bafflaud MM. R. , Banachiewicz  , Bianchi  , Camera  , Castro  , Curry  , Dneprovski  , Dyson  , Esclangon  , Gallo  , Lambert A. , Lejay  , Littell  , Mašek  , Moreau  , Niethammer  , Picart  , Sampson  , Silva  , Sollenberger  , Sotóme  , Stewart  , Verbaandert  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

Depuis la dernière réunion, notre commission s’est transformée en une commission internationale mixte dépendant à la fois de l’Union astronomique et de l’Union géodésique et géophysique internationales.

On se rappelle que l’Assemblée générale, réunie à Leiden, a émis le vœu que le Président de l’U.A.I. s’entretienne avec le Président de l’Union de Géodésie et de Géophysique et le prie d’examiner s’il serait possible que celle-ci apporte quelque contribution aux dépenses du Bureau international de l’Heure. Comme suite à ce vœu, l’Assemblée générale de cette dernière Union, réunie à Lisboa en 1933, a adopté la résolution suivante:

“L’Union géodésique et géophysique internationale décide qu’une subvention régulière annuelle sera allouée par elle au Bureau international de l’Heure, dans les limites de ses crédits et des besoins du Bureau.
34. Commission de la Parallaxe Solaire
Authors: Jones M. H.Spencer , Esclangon MM. , Hammond  , Hinks  , Jackson J. , Kopff  , Schorr  , Stroobant  , Witt
Published: July 2016

Much progress has been made since the last meeting of the Union in the measurement and reduction of photographic plates and in the reduction of micrometric observations obtained near the opposition of Eros, 1930-31. The reduction of photographs and measures which are dependent upon positions of secondary comparison stars have had necessarily to be postponed until the positions of these ‘stars are available. In this report, the present position of the investigations is summarized.

1. Reference Stars, (a) Primary. The positions of these stars, based on meridian observations at several observatories, were published by A. Kopff, H. Nowacki and F. Gondolatsch in Ast. Nach. 241, Nos. 5781-2 and 244, Nos. 5852-3. The reduction of series of path plates, taken for the purpose of providing positions of secondary reference stars, and of series of Eros plates obtained with telescopes of astrographic focal length have shown that the positions of some of these stars are considerably in error. As is to be expected in view of their smaller average weight, the largest discordances are in the positions of some of the southern stars.
35. Commission de la Constitution des étoiles
Authors: Eddington A. S. , Emden MM. , Fowler R. H. , Jeans  , Milne  , Pannekoek  , Rosseland  , Russell  , Strömgren B. , Vogt  , Von Zeipel  , Woltjer
Published: July 2016

The Commission has found no opportunity for acting collectively during the last three years. The study of the constitution of the stars has been advanced by individual contributions, which it would be impracticable and undesirable to guide officially.

Whilst much useful work has been done, it would be difficult to point to any outstanding development in the study of the interior of the stars during this period. But there is a prospect of great advances in the near future. From 1932 onwards experimental physicists in all countries have been largely occupied with the phenomena of transmutation of the elements, and it is clearly possible to determine in the laboratory most of the quantitative data as to the rate of the subatomic processes (especially those due to the encounters of protons and electrons with nuclei) and the consequent liberation of energy, for which astronomers have long been waiting.
Commission 17. (Lunar Nomenclature.)
Authors: Dyson Frank , Delmotte M. G.
Published: July 2016

The President reported that the work of the Commission had been achieved and two volumes published and distributed. These are: (1) a volume of named lunar formations and (2) a volume of 14 maps with corresponding names upon them.

After some discussion it was proposed to recommend that the Commission should be continued on a broader basis and called “La Lune”—but divided into three sub-commissions.

(1)

Visual and Photographic Observations of the Surface.

(2)

Physical Observations.

(3)

Mathematical researches and occultations.
Commission 18. (Longitudes.)
Authors: Perrier G. , Lejay R. P.
Published: July 2016

Après lecture du rapport par le Président, celui-ci met en discussion les questions à l’ordre du jour:

1. Centralisation au B.I.H. des résultats obtenus au cours de l’opération de 1933 par toutes les stations participantes.

Le Président fait connaître que 55 stations seulement ont déjà fait parvenir les renseignements demandés. Il demande que les autres stations veuillent bien communiquer leurs documents le plus rapidement possible.
Commission 25. (Stellar Photometry.)
Authors: Bergstrand Ö. , Lindblad B.
Published: July 2016

The acting chairman read a letter from the President of the Commission, Mr F. H. Seares, calling the attention of the Commission to certain points of importance which might be taken up for discussion. In the course of this discussion Dr H. Shapley invited cooperation with the Harvard Observatory on the work of unification of the magnitude systems in the northern and southern sky.

After a discussion on the problems of standardizing colour filters and photographic plates used in stellar photometry the recommendation suggested by Dr Shapley that all engaged in photometric research publish promptly the characteristics of their instruments, colour filters, etc., was adopted.
Commission 28. (Nebulae.)
Authors: Shapley H. , Oort J. H.
Published: July 2016

Except for a brief discussion of the zero point of the period-luminosity curve and the influence of the absorption of light on its determination, the discussions were mainly confined to the draft report which was approved by the commission. The President read a report from Dr Lampland, which had not been included in the draft report and Prof. Lundmark gave an account of his work on extragalactic nebulae, in particular of the catalogue of about 50,000 nebulae which is now being prepared at Lund.

The President drew special attention to the importance of the problem of the spiral arms for future cosmogonie theories and urged further theoretical investigations on the origin of the spiral structures.
Commission 32. (Selected Areas.)
Authors: Van Rhijn P. J. , Hins C. H.
Published: July 2016

The draft report was adopted with one or two minor alterations.

The Commission discussed the points mentioned in section 12 in the report, “desiderata for future work.”

1.

Dr Shapley promised to consider the possibility of using the Bruce telescope for the Durchmusterung of the southern areas, going down to magnitude 18.5 approximately.

2.

The President asked Dr Jackson’s opinion about the possibility of observing the meridian positions of the standard stars of the southern areas from —30° downward at the Cape observatory.

Dr Jackson’s objection to such work was on account of the faintness of these standard stars. The whole southern sky from — 30° to the south pole will be repeated photographically with the wide angle lens.
10. Commission des Taches Solaires et des Nombres CaractéRistiques Solaires
Authors: Brunner M. W. , Abetti MM. , Butler  , Chapman S. , Lobo G. S. da Costa , d’Azambuja  , Dufay  , Evershed  , Moss  , Newall  , Newton  , Nicholson  , Nováková Mlle , Perepelkin MM. , Pettit  , Rodés  , Rowland  , Royds  , Sotome  , Yamamoto
Published: July 2016

Periodicity and new properties of the frequency curve. Bruno Hanisch uses the method of autocorrelation introduced by W. Pollack in geophysics for the discovery of periods in the frequency series of sunspots from 1794 to 1925. Dividing the whole interval into three sections he finds an eleven- and an eight-year period common to the three sections, whereas other periods found in the three sections differ widely from each other. The new method gives for the length of the main period II-8 years for the interval 1880 to 1925. This result agrees strikingly with the revolution period of Jupiter (Gerlands Beiträge zur Geophysik, 46, 1935).
13. Commission des Éclipses de Soleil
Authors: Mitchell M. S. A. , Abetti MM. , Curtis  , da Costa Lobo F. M. , Danjon  , Davidson C. R. , Pluvinel de la Baume , Donitch N. , Freundlich  , Gerasimovich  , Hirayama S. , Horn d’Arturo  , McNally  , Menzel  , Miller J. A. , Minnaert  , Moore J. H. , Slouka  , Stetson  , Stratton  , Wood
Published: July 2016

Since the date of the 1935 Paris meeting two total eclipses have been successfully observed. Throughout the long path crossing Siberia and Japan the weather on June 19, 1936 on the whole about lived up to predictions. On account of widely scattered clouds neighbouring expeditions had quite different luck with the weather. In contrast, the June 8, 1937 eclipse was seen throughout the whole track under universally clear skies, which is all the more surprising for the reason that eclipse expeditions to the tropics usually fare badly with the weather. Stewart and Stokley in a ship at sea were able to observe the eclipse with a measured duration of 7 min. 6 sec., the longest period of totality in 1200 years.
23. Commission de la Carte du Ciel
Authors: Baillaud M. J. , Aguilar MM. , Baldwin  , Bemporad A. , Bhaskaran  , Bratu  , Curlewis  , Delporte  , Delvosal  , Dyson  , Esclangon  , Favaro  , Furuhjelm  , Gallo  , Greaves  , Herrero  , Jackson J. , Jones Spencer , Lagarde  , Lagrula  , Nangle  , Paloque  , Penine  , Picart L. , Plaskett H. H. , Rougier  , Sampson  , Stein
Published: July 2016

L’œuvre entreprise il y a cinquante ans par l’ancien Comité Permanent de la Carte du Ciel n’a pas été intégralement accomplie. Si certaines de ses parties peuvent être considérées comme terminées, d’autres ont été perdues de vue ou abandonnées.

La tâche de la Commission de la Carte du Ciel doit être maintenant d’examiner, à la lueur de cinquante années de progrès scientifiques, et en tenant compte du travail déjà fait, quelles sont celles des anciennes recommandations du Comité Permanent dont il y a lieu de poursuivre l’exécution.
24. Commission des Parallaxes Stellaires et des Mouvements Propres
Authors: Schlesinger M. F. , Adams MM. W. S. , Alden  , Bianchi  , Cecchini  , Finsen  , Harper  , Hertz-sprung  , Jackson J. , Jones Spencer , Jordan  , Lindblad  , Luyten  , Miller J. A. , Mitchell  , Moffit  , Nechvíle  , Russell  , Shapley  , Slocum  , Smart  , van Maanen  , van Rhijn  , Voûte
Published: July 2016

Since the Paris meeting of the Union 3050 parallax plates have been secured and in the same interval 5604 plates have been measured and 182 parallaxes have been determined.
25. Commission de Photométrie Stellaire
Authors: Seares M. F. H. , Baade MM. , Baillaud J. , Beljawski  , Bemporad A. , Bennett  , Bergstrand  , Danjon  , Dufay  , Fesenkov  , Payne Gaposchkin Mme , Graff MM. , Greaves  , Green W. K. , Guthnick  , Hall  , Hassenstein  , Hellericn  , Hertzsprung  , Holm  , Jones Spencer , Lindblad  , Malmquist  , Pannekoek  , Ross F. E. , Rougier  , Sampson  , Schilt  , Shapley  , Šternberk  , Tremblot  , Vanderlinden  , van Rhijn  , von Zeipel
Published: July 2016

The committee of the Carte du Ciel in 1910 adopted the following convention : That for Ao stars between magnitudes 5·5 and 6·5 the mean photographic magnitude should equal the mean Harvard visual magnitude. As a corollary, the colour index of Ao stars would then be zero.

The zero point of the photographic magnitudes of the International Polar Sequence was fixed as nearly as possible in accordance with this definition; but it was by no means certain that the magnitudes thus adopted for the few stars of the Sequence represented the zero point defined by all the Ao stars specified.
27. Commission des Étoiles Variables
Authors: Dugan M. R. S. , Grouiller M. , Banachiewicz MM. , Campbell L. , Cox  , Danjon  , de Roy  , Einbu  , Gadomski  , Gaposchkin  , Gerasimovich  , Graff  , Guthnick  , Harwood Mlle , Hertzsprung MM. , Hoffmeister  , Hogg Mme H. B. , Jacchia MM. , Jordan  , Joy  , Kopal  , Kordylewski  , Kukarkin  , Lacchini  , Lindley  , Ludendorff  , McLaughlin  , Merrill  , Mitchell  , Nielsen A. V. , Pearce  , Pickering D. B. , Prager  , Ryves  , Shapley  , Silva  , Steavenson  , Stebbins  , Stein  , Strömgren E. , ten Bruggencate  , Tiercy  , Tsesevich  , Voûte  , Walter
Published: July 2016

The Commission again subscribes to a number of the good resolutions it has made in the past, for example, to follow the almost universal practice of counting the observed times, either in decimals of a day or in hours and minutes, from Greenwich mean noon, even though one is convinced that the rest of the world should adopt U.T.; and to prepare a chart, identifying the variable and the comparison stars, to form a part of the discovery announcement of a variable which cannot be easily identified through a Durchmusterung number and which is bright enough to invite further observation.
Introductory Remarks
Authors: Fowler William A.
Published: July 2016

Members and guests of the International Astronomical Union, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Joint Discussion on ‘Nucleogenesis in Stars’. Let me first of all express my appreciation for the help given me by the other two members of the organizing committee, Dr A. G. Masevich of the U.S.S.R. and Prof. F. Hoyle of Great Britain. I am also very grateful to Prof. D. A. Frank-Kamenetsky who has consented to serve as secretary of the meeting.

I would like to take this opportunity to make some introductory remarks concerning nucleogenesis in stars and to sketch the outline of the program. Fig. 1 shows schematically the various nuclear processes by which all the elements and their isotopes may be synthesized in several generations of stars starting with pure or almost pure hydrogen as the composition of the first stars which formed in the Galaxy. In the figure, hydrogen burning reactions are plotted horizontally, helium burning and more complicated processes are plotted vertically. Neutron capture processes are shown as curved arrows.
8. Positional Astronomy
Authors: Nemiro A. A. , Fricke W. , Adams A. N. , Lacroute P. , Stoy R. H. , Tucker R. H. , von der Heide J. E. B. , Yasuda H. , Zverev M. S.
Published: July 2016

It is with deep regret that we mention the death, on 15 July 1969, of Prof. Dr G. Demetrescu who has done so much for the development of Astronomy in Roumania.

This report is based on letters received from members of the Commission, whom I wish to thank most cordially.

The most important events in the development of positional astronomy during the three past years were:

(1)

The construction and use of new types of astronomical instruments based on new techniques, and

(2)

The collective observations of large numbers of stars, especially in the Southern hemisphere on the basis of international cooperation.

At the USNO a design study for a ten-inch automatic meridian circle (ATC)was completed in 1968. Construction and installation should be completed by the end of 1970. A modified Cassegrainian optical system with a Cer-Vit primary mirror is being used. For some other important parts of the instrument new materials will also be used. At each end of the horizontal axis of the instrument Inductosyns will be mounted.

An Inductosyn system for digital readout of the pointing angle of the telescope was installed on the six-inch transit circle of the USNO in 1967 for testing and calibration. An IBM-1800 data acquisition and control system was on line with the same instrument.
Working Group on Central Line Intensities
Authors: Pierce A. Keith
Published: July 2016

Of a select list of about 40 Fraunhofer lines distributed between λλ 3083-7122, central intensities corrected for scattered light, ghosts and instrumental profile, has been obtained for 18 lines. Uncorrected values of central intensity for a number of other lines are available. A complete list of the results of all observers will be given at the General Assembly in Brighton.
Committee 1: Standards of Wavelength
Authors: Edlen B.
Published: July 2016

Experiments on Lamb-dip stabilization of the 6328 Å He-Ne laser line made at NBS, NPL and PTB and reported in a joint paper (10) show that the wavelength from different lasers may differ by as much as one part in 107. Similar work on a C02 laser line at 10.6 μm and a xenon line at 3.5 μm is reported from NPL, the 1.15 μm line in a pure Ne 20 laser has been investigated at JILA (5), and several lines in a xenon ion laser are being studied at PTB. However, the method that holds the greatest promise of accuracy and stability is the use of saturated absorption to lock a laser wavelength to some molecular transition having a sharply defined and stable wavelength. Thus the 6328 Å He-Ne laser line can be fixed on a line in the molecule 127I2 (6, 7), and the 3.3913 μm line of a He-Ne laser has been connected to a line of CH4, promising a unique precision and stability according to experiments made at JILA (5) and NRC. This technique will evidently yield excellent substitutes for the Kr 86 line, and may, when the time is ripe, lead to the adoption of an improved primary standard.
Committee 4: Structure of Atomic Spectra
Authors: Moore-Sitterly CH.
Published: July 2016

A current Bibliography on The Analyses of Optical Atomic Spectra is in print (43). It appears in four sections, three of which cover the same elements as the respective volumes on Atomic Energy Levels. Relevant literature references from the dates of publication of these Volumes are continued for each spectrum to the present, as follows:

The last Section contains references to rare-earth spectra:

The present report will be limited to later work.
16. Physical Study of Planets and Satellites
Authors: Hall J. S. , Levin B. J. , Dollfus A. , Herzberg G. , Kuiper G. P. , Mayer C. H. , Sagan C. E. , Wildt R.
Published: July 2016

The ground-based research activity in the planetary field has increased very rapidly since the Prague meeting in 1967. The space probes into the atmosphere of Venus and the flybys of Mars have not only added directly to our knowledge of these planets but have stimulated further research.

Because of this rapid growth and the large expense which would be required to publish detailed descriptions of the very numerous research projects carried on in the last three years, this report will differ in important respects from the previous ones. Drs Levin, Pettengill, and McElroy have provided summaries of progress made in three important fields of planetary science, and Levin has also kindly contributed a summary of planetary research carried on in the U.S.S.R. since the Prague meeting. On behalf of its members, the President of Commission 16 gratefully acknowledges each of these important contributions.