Johann Elert Bode
The "B.A.J." series was founded by Johann Elert Bode, and is thus sometimes referred to as Bode's Astronomisches Jahrbuch. It began publication in 1776 and continued until 1960 when it was merged into the international edition of the "Astronomical Ephemeris" and "Apparent Places of Fundamental Stars" (APFS). This merger was decided in 1959 by the IAU.