A. Jappel - Böcker

The three years since the Brighton General Assembly have been the most active period in the history of the Union. 33 IAU Symposia and Colloquia, the first Regional Meeting under the Auspices of the IAU, several co-sponsored Meetings and many other special projects. All this culminating with two General Assemblies in two opposite parts of the Earth, Australia and Poland. At the same time the membership of the Union rose to 3200, the number of Commissions to 40, the number of adhering countries to 47. The present Volume gives a general picture of the Union's recent activity. It contains the report of the Executive Committee, the report of the General Assembly, including the Commissions, Meetings, a short report on the Extraordinary General Assembly and an Appendix with the Members and Commissions of the IAU and the approved names of Lunar and Martian features. I take this opportunity to thank all our collaborators, members of the Executive Committee, Presidents of Commissions, Chairmen of Specific Projects, IAU Secrt;taries and all the Members of the IA U for their contribution to keep our Union a living body of active scientists and a big inter­ national family. G. CoNTOPOULOS General Secretary CONTENTS Page No.

The General Assemblies of the International Astronomical Union are landmarks in the life of the world-wide astronomical community, as they review, at triennial intervals, the progress made in this scientific field, promulgate the most spect­ acular astronomical achievements, formulate scientific programmes for the years to come and, last but not least, deal with the administration and finances of the IAU. The Reports on Astronomy 1976, published as Transactions XVIA (in 3 volumes) before the XVlth General Assembly, are a synopsis of the work done in astronomy from 1973 to 1975. The volume "Highlights of Astronomy , as presented at the XVlth General As­ sembly of the IAU in Grenoble, 1976" includes some selected scientific topics, and will appear in the first half of 1977. Apart from the Invited Discourses and the Proceedings of the seven Joint Discussions, the Highlights volume No.4 con­ tairsthe proceedings of two Joint Commissions Meetings.