At its meeting the Commission adopted the cipher code for astronomical telegrams, proposed by the President, with two minor alterations, and agreed that the new code was to be used from 1935 Nov. 1. The corrected cipher code is given below in this volume (p. 391).

The Commission also asked for an annual grant of 1200 Swiss francs to the Bureau of Astronomical Telegrams until the next meeting of the Union.

(A joint discussion with Commission 20 is reported by the latter Commission. p. 309.)

The bulk of the Commission’s work has, as in previous years, been carried out most efficiently by the I.A.U. Bureau, especially by its Director, Dr. B.G. Marsden.

As noted below in the report of the Central Bureau, a number of changes have been introduced in the technical and business operations of the Bureau during the triennium. Some of the changes follow from the transfer of the IAU Minor Planet Center to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. For example the Minor Planet Circulars now offer an alternate avenue of publication for less time-urgent data concerning comets as well as minor planets. Changes at the communications center of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory have made it less costly, as well as more efficient, for the Central Bureau to maintain its own communications equipment. At the same time, in the face of generally rising costs, and after careful investigation of alternatives, it has become necessary for users to assume an increased share in underwriting the operating expenses of the Bureau.

The operation of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, thanks to the diligence of its Director and his collaborators, has continued to remain relatively tranquil and quite effective since January 1968, following the methodology established by the previous Director, Dr Owen J. Gingerich. Financial problems, temporarily at least, seem not to be of major concern. The effective subsidy by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has been reduced almost to a tolerable level. Policy with regard to the content of the Circulars, however, deserves continuing surveillance by the subscribers.

Sir Frank Dyson submitted the following resolution, which was seconded by Prof. Van Biesbroeck, and carried:

“The Commission recommends that the yearly subsidy of £66, granted since 1928 by the Union to the Central Bureau of Telegrams, be continued.”

The President described some proposals of modifications to the European code which he thought desirable. By using time instead of arc for Right Ascension, and Declination instead of Polar Distance, anybody receiving a telegram would be able to read it directly, without any computations, whereas its security would remain sufficient. This code is, in the main, similar to one which Prof. Förster had suggested many years ago.

The Commission has been fortunate in being able to continue its work during the last triennium with a minimum of effort, and thanks for this should go largely to the Director of the Bureau, Dr B.G. Marsden, for his untiring dedication, as well as to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for its general support. If any question has arisen, it was where the line should be drawn between paid and unpaid contributions to the Circulars. This involves a somewhat delicate balance of interests between, on the one hand, the encouragement given to certain types of observations which have traditionally been published in the Circulars, (e.g. accurate positions of comets), and, on the other, the income on whi h the continued successful operation of the Bureau depends. The position will therefore have to be kept under review at all times. At present all evidence points to general satisfaction with current policy.

As is evident from Director Dan Green's detailed report below, the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) continues to function in a very reliable and efficient way. The electronic telegrams (CBETs) introduced in 2002 have proved to be a great success; they allow for very rapid dissemination of more extensive information than there is room for on printed Circulars, and they are frequently cited in the astronomical literature. The workload on the Director seems to be forever increasing. It is therefore gratifying that an Assistant Director, Gareth Williams, has been appointed. Since he also serves as Associate Director of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) and performs many of the computations on which the CBETs and the Circulars are based, the ties and mutual benefits between the CBAT and the MPC have been made even stronger.

As earlier, the main activity of the Commission was performed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), effectively directed by Dan Green. These three years were a difficult period for the Bureau and thus for the Commission because the Bureau unexpectedly had to move from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, its home since 1965, to the Harvard University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. This move caused many serious administrative and logistical problems, effectively solved by the CBAT Director, Dan Green, and CBAT Director Emeritus, Brian Marsden. A great shock, not only for our commission but for the whole astronomical community, was Brian's death on November 18, 2010.

The President verbally reported that the only scientific matter that he dealt with during the triennium as an appeal over the withholding of a supernova designation from an object observed only in the infra-red with no supporting spectrum.

The president proposed the following for the coming triennium: Alan C. Gilmore president, and Nikolai N. Samus vice-president. Members: Brian G. Marsden, Daniel W. E. Green, Syuichi Nakano, Elizabeth Roemer, Jana Tichá, Hitoshi Yamaoka, Kaare Aksnes. Supernova group representative: Hitoshi Yamaoka was invited on to the OC to provide a link with supernova observers.

From Director Dan Green's report, following this report, it is obvious that the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) continues its excellent work. The Electronic Telegrams (CBETs), established in the previous triennium, have become the regular means for fast communication, with the Circulars providing the official and archival record of discoveries and designations. It is regretted that subscriptions to the printed Circulars continue to decline, but inevitable in this age of electronic communication.