International Astronomical Union
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Logo of the IAU |
The
International Astronomical Union (
French:
Union astronomique internationale) unites national
astronomical societies from around the world. It is a member of the
International Council for Science (ICSU). It is internationally recognized as the authority responsible for naming stars, planets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies and phenomena in the scientific community.
Working groups include the
Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), which maintains the
astronomical naming conventions and
planetary nomenclature for planetary bodies. The IAU is also responsible for the system of
Astronomical Telegrams which are produced and distributed on its behalf by the
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. The
Minor Planet Center (MPC), a clearinghouse for all non-planetary or non-moon bodies in the
solar system, also operates under the IAU.
The IAU was founded in
1919, as a merger of various international projects including the
Carte du Ciel, the
Solar Union and the
International Time Bureau (
Bureau International de l'Heure). The first president was
Benjamin Baillaud.
Pieter Johannes van Rhijn served as president from
1932 to
1958.
The IAU currently has 9040 individual members (i.e., professional astronomers), mainly at the
PhD level; and 63 national members (i.e., countries that are affiliated with the IAU). Eighty-seven percent of all members are male; 13 percent are female. The current president is
Ronald D. Ekers.
The
XXVIth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (August 2006) will be held in
Prague,
Czech Republic.
* In the song "
Planet X" by
Christine Lavin, there are lyrics referring to both the IAU and WGPSN.
* In the movie
Deep Impact, the actual scientific group to which the amateur would report the finding of a new asteroid would be the
MPC.
* The IAU appears in
Arthur C. Clarke's novel
The Hammer of God acting the way it does in real life.
*
Astronomical naming conventions *
Planetary nomenclature*
Website of the International Astronomical Union*
XXVIth General Assembly 2006
