16. Commission Pour les Observations Physiques des Planètes, des Comètes et des Satellites

The following work embodying researches coming within the scope of this commission has been published since the last meeting of the Union: La Planète Mercure et la Rotation des Satellites, by E. M. Antoniadi; Gauthier-Villars, Paris.In addition to references to the work of other astronomers the author gives a summary of his own observations with the 0.83 m. refractor at Meudon and his conclusions.The following Memoirs or papers not specifically referred to in the body of the Report have also been published since the last meeting of the Union: Cometa Halley. Vol. xxv of Resultados del Observatorio Nacional Argentino. This is a monograph on the Comet at its 1910 return. By C. D. Perrine. Les Comètes en 1930,1931 et 1932. By F. Baldet. (L’ Astronomie 46,497 et 48,175.) I Fondamenti Psicologici dell’ Indagine Visuale. By M. Maggini. (Memorie dellaSoc. Astron. Italiana, Vol. VIII, 2.) Théorie Photométrique des Eclipses de Lune. By F. M. Link. (Bulletin Astronomique,8 fase. 11.) Relative Lunar Heights and Topography by means of the Motion Picture Negative.</jats:p

12. Commission de Physique Solaire

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.</jats:p