View source for International Astronomical Union

{{Short description|Association of professional astronomers}}
{{Hatnote group|{{Redirect|IAU}}{{Distinguish|International Astronautical Federation}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Oxford English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = International Astronomical Union (IAU)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100060853 |url-access= |title=International Astronomical Union (IAU) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=16 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= }}</ref>
| native_name              = ''Union astronomique internationale (UAI)''
| native_name_lang         = fr
| image                    = IAU logo.svg
| size                     = 150px
| map                      = Members of International Astronomical Union.svg
| map_size                 = 300px
| map_caption              = National members from 85 countries as of May 2023
<div style="padding-left:7.0em;text-align:left;font-size:100%;">{{legend|#4daf4a|Member states}}{{legend|#a6d96a|States with interim status}}{{legend|#377eb8|Observer states}}{{legend|#f781bf|Suspended states}}</div>
| abbreviation             = IAU/UAI
| formation                = {{start date and age|1919|7|28|df=y}}
| founding_location        = [[Brussels]], Belgium
| extinction               = 
| type                     = [[International non-governmental organization|INGO]]
| headquarters             = [[Paris]], [[France]]
| region_served            = [[World]]wide
| membership               = {{nowrap|85 national members}}<ref name="National Members" /><br />{{nowrap|13,119  individual members}}<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.iau.org/Iau/Iau/Membership/Individual-and-Junior-Members.aspx| title = Individual and Junior Members}}</ref>
| leader_title             = {{nowrap|[[President (corporate title)|President]]}}
| leader_name              = {{Flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Willy Benz]]
| leader_title2            = {{nowrap|[[Secretary (title)#General secretary|General Secretary]]}}
| leader_name2             = {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Diana Mary Worrall]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive Committee |url=https://www.iau.org/administration/executive_bodies/executive_committee/ |website=IAU |access-date=1 January 2025 |archive-date=2 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302030136/https://iau.org/administration/executive_bodies/executive_committee/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.iau.org/|IAU.org}}
}}

The '''International Astronomical Union''' ('''IAU'''; {{langx|fr|link=yes|Union astronomique internationale}}, '''UAI''') is an [[international non-governmental organization]] (INGO) with the objective of advancing [[astronomy]] in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and development through global cooperation. It was founded on 28 July 1919 in [[Brussels]], Belgium, and is based in [[Paris]], France.

The IAU is composed of individual members, who include both professional astronomers and junior scientists, and national members, such as professional associations, national societies, or academic institutions. Individual members are organised into divisions, committees, and working groups centered on particular subdisciplines, subjects, or initiatives. {{As of|May 2024|post=,}} the Union had 85 national members and 12,734 individual members, spanning 90 countries and territories.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Astronomical Union {{!}} IAU|url=https://www.iau.org/administration/about/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=www.iau.org|archive-date=30 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530182403/https://www.iau.org/about/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Among the key activities of the IAU is serving as a forum for scientific conferences. It sponsors nine annual symposia and holds a triannual General Assembly that sets policy and includes various scientific meetings. The Union is best known for being the leading authority in assigning official names and designations to [[astronomical object]]s, and for setting uniform definitions for astronomical principles. It also coordinates with national and international partners, such as [[UNESCO]], to fulfill its mission.

The IAU is a member of the [[International Science Council]], which is composed of international scholarly and scientific institutions and national [[Academies of Science|academies of sciences]].

==Function==
The International Astronomical Union is an international association of professional [[astronomer]]s, at the PhD level and beyond, active in professional research and education in [[astronomy]].<ref name="IAU-About" /> Among other activities, it acts as the recognized authority for assigning designations and names to [[astronomical object|celestial bodies]] ([[star]]s, [[planet]]s, [[asteroid]]s, etc.) and any surface features on them.<ref name="NYT-20140804" />

The IAU is a member of the [[International Science Council]]. Its main objective is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU maintains friendly relations with organizations that include [[amateur astronomy|amateur astronomers]] in their membership. The IAU has its head office on the second floor of the {{Lang|fr|Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris}} in the [[14th arrondissement of Paris]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20100407150225/http://www.iau.org/administration/secretariat/ IAU Secretariat]." International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 26 May 2011. "Address: IAU – UAI Secretariat 98-bis Blvd Arago F–75014 PARIS FRANCE" and "The IAU Secretariat is located in the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 2nd floor, offices n°270, 271 and 283."</ref>

This organisation has many working groups. For example, the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), which maintains the [[astronomical naming conventions]] and [[planetary nomenclature]] for planetary bodies, and the [[Working Group on Star Names]] (WGSN), which catalogues and standardizes proper names for stars. 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]] also operates under the IAU, and is a "clearinghouse" for all non-planetary or non-moon bodies in the Solar System.<ref name="IAU-Centres" />

== History ==
The IAU was founded on 28 July 1919, at the Constitutive Assembly of the International Research Council (now the [[International Science Council]]) held in [[Brussels]], Belgium.<ref name="IAUhist" /><ref name="hist-Adams" /> Two subsidiaries of the IAU were also created at this assembly: the ''International Time Commission'' seated at the [[International Time Bureau]] in Paris, France, and the ''International Central Bureau of Astronomical Telegrams'' initially seated in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark.<ref name="IAUhist" />

The seven initial member states were Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, and the United States, soon to be followed by Italy and Mexico.<ref name="IAUhist" /> The first executive committee consisted of [[Benjamin Baillaud]] (President, France), [[Alfred Fowler]] (General Secretary, UK), and four vice presidents: [[William Wallace Campbell|William Campbell]] (US), [[Frank Watson Dyson|Frank Dyson]] (UK), [[Georges Lecointe (explorer)|Georges Lecointe]] (Belgium), and [[Annibale Riccò]] (Italy).<ref name="IAUhist" /> Thirty-two Commissions (referred to initially as Standing Committees) were appointed at the Brussels meeting and focused on topics ranging from relativity to minor planets. The reports of these 32 Commissions formed the main substance of the first General Assembly, which took place in Rome, Italy, 2–10 May 1922.

By the end of the first General Assembly, ten additional nations (Australia, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, and Spain) had joined the Union, bringing the total membership to 19 countries. Although the Union was officially formed eight months after the end of World War I, international collaboration in astronomy had been strong in the pre-war era (e.g., the ''[[Astronomische Gesellschaft Katalog]]'' projects since 1868, the [[Carte du Ciel|Astrographic Catalogue]] since 1887, and the International Union for Solar research since 1904).<ref name="IAUhist" />

The first 50 years of the Union's history are well documented.<ref name="IAUhist" /><ref name="hist-Adams" /> Subsequent history is recorded in the form of reminiscences of past IAU Presidents and General Secretaries. Twelve of the fourteen past General Secretaries in the period 1964–2006 contributed their recollections of the Union's history in IAU Information Bulletin No. 100.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iau.org/static/publications/IB100-v1.pdf| title = IAU Information Bulletin No. 100, July 2007| access-date = 30 April 2008| archive-date = 2 August 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170802131206/https://www.iau.org/static/publications/IB100-v1.pdf| url-status = dead}}</ref> Six past IAU Presidents in the period 1976–2003 also contributed their recollections in IAU Information Bulletin No. 104.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iau.org/static/publications/IB104.pdf| title = IAU Information Bulletin No. 104, June 2009| access-date = 2 December 2015| archive-date = 9 October 2022| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.iau.org/static/publications/IB104.pdf| url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 2015 and 2019, the Union held the [[NameExoWorlds]] contests.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |date=2016-12-02 |title=Twinkle, Twinkle Little [Insert Name Here] |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/science/naming-stars.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IAU100 Name ExoWorlds |url=https://www.iau-100.org/name-exoworlds |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=IAU100:Under One Sky |language=en}}</ref>

Starting in 2024, the Union, in partnership with the [[United Nations]], is poised to play a critical role in developing the legislation and framework for [[lunar resources|lunar industrialization]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/06/moons-resources-could-be-destroyed-by-thoughtless-exploitation-nasa-warned |title=Moon's resources could be 'destroyed by thoughtless exploitation', NASA warned |newspaper=The Observer |date=6 January 2024 |last1=McKie |first1=Robin}}</ref>

== Composition ==
[[File:IAU National Members.svg|thumb|center|550px|The IAU includes member organizations from 82 countries (designated as national members).]]

As of 1 August 2019, the IAU has a total of 13,701 ''individual members'', who are professional astronomers from 102 countries worldwide; 81.7% of individual members are male, while 18.3% are female.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/individual/distribution/ |title=Geographical and Gender Distribution of Individual Members |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825230858/https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/individual/distribution/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Membership also includes 82 ''national members'', professional astronomical communities representing their country's affiliation with the IAU. National members include the [[Australian Academy of Science]], the Chinese Astronomical Society, the [[French Academy of Sciences]], the [[Indian National Science Academy]], the [[National Academies (United States)]], the [[National Research Foundation of South Africa]], the [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council]] (Argentina), the Council of German Observatories, the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] (United Kingdom), the [[Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand]], the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]], the [[Russian Academy of Sciences]], and the [[Science Council of Japan]], among many others.<ref name="National Members" />

The sovereign body of the IAU is its ''General Assembly'', which comprises all members. The Assembly determines IAU policy, approves the Statutes and By-Laws of the Union (and amendments proposed thereto) and elects various committees.

The right to vote on matters brought before the Assembly varies according to the type of business under discussion. The Statutes consider such business to be divided into two categories:
* '''issues of a "primarily scientific nature"''' (as determined by the Executive Committee), upon which voting is restricted to individual members, and
* '''all other matters''' (such as Statute revision and procedural questions), upon which voting is restricted to the representatives of national members.

On budget matters (which fall into the second category), votes are weighted according to the relative subscription levels of the national members. A second category vote requires a turnout of at least two-thirds of national members to be valid. An absolute majority is sufficient for approval in any vote, except for Statute revision which requires a [[supermajority|two-thirds majority]]. An equality of votes is resolved by the vote of the President of the Union.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

=== List of national members ===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

==== Africa ====
* {{ALG}}
* {{EGY}}
* {{ETH}}
* {{GHA}}
* {{MAD}}
* {{MOR}}
* {{MOZ}}
* {{NGA}}
* {{RSA}}

==== Asia ====
* {{ARM}}
* {{CHN}}
* {{CYP}}
* {{GEO}} (suspended)
* {{IND}}
* {{IDN}}
* {{IRN}} (suspended)
* {{ISR}}
* {{JPN}}
* {{JOR}}
* {{KAZ}}
* {{LBN}} (suspended)
* {{MYS}}
* {{MNG}}
* {{PRK}} (suspended)
* {{PHI}}
* {{SAU}} (suspended)
* {{KOR}}
* {{SYR}}
* {{TWN}}
* {{TJK}}
* {{THA}}
* {{TUR}}
* {{UAE}}
* {{VIE}} (suspended)

==== Europe ====
* {{AUT}}
* {{BEL}}
* {{BUL}}
* {{CRO}}
* {{CZE|name=Czechia}}
* {{DEN}}
* {{EST}}
* {{FIN}}
* {{FRA}}
* {{GER}}
* {{GRE}}
* {{HUN}}
* {{ISL}}
* {{IRL}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{LAT}}
* {{LIT}}
* {{Flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands|name=Netherlands}}
* {{NOR}}
* {{POL}}
* {{POR}}
* {{ROU}}
* {{RUS}}
* {{SRB}}
* {{SVK}}
* {{SVN}}
* {{ESP}}
* {{SWE}}
* {{SWI}}
* {{UKR}}
* {{GBR}}
* {{VAT}}

==== North America ====
* {{CAN}}
* {{CRC}} (interim)
* {{HON}} (interim)
* {{MEX}}
* {{PAN}} (interim)
* {{USA}}

==== Oceania ====
* {{AUS}}
* {{NZL}}
==== South America ====
* {{ARG}}
* {{BOL}}
* {{BRA}}
* {{CHL}}
* {{COL}}
* {{ECU}} (observer)
* {{PER}} (suspended)
* {{URU}} (observer)
* {{VEN}} (suspended)
{{div col end}}

=== Terminated national members ===
* {{AZE}}
* {{CUB}}
* {{MKD}}
* {{UZB}}

== General Assemblies ==
Since 1922, the IAU General Assembly meets every three years, except for the period between 1938 and 1948, due to [[World War II]].
After a Polish request in 1967, and by a controversial decision<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gingerich |first1=Owen |title=The Copernican Quinquecentennial and Its Predecessors: Historical Insights and National Agendas. |journal=Osiris |date=1999 |volume=14 |pages=50–51 |doi=10.1086/649299 |jstor=301960 |bibcode=1999Osir...14...37G |s2cid=144982060}}</ref> of the then President of the IAU, an ''Extraordinary IAU General Assembly'' was held in September 1973 in [[Warsaw]], Poland,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iau.org/science/meetings/past/general_assemblies/72/ |title=Extraordinary General Assembly}}</ref> to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of [[Nicolaus Copernicus]], soon after the regular 1973 GA had been held in Sydney.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: left;"
! width=222 | Meeting
! width=50 | Year
! Venue
|-
|Ist IAU General Assembly (1st)
|align=center | 1922
|[[Rome]], Italy
|-
|IInd IAU General Assembly (2nd)
|align=center | 1925
|[[Cambridge]], [[England]], United Kingdom
|-
|IIIrd IAU General Assembly (3rd)
|align=center | 1928
|[[Leiden]], Netherlands
|-
|IVth IAU General Assembly (4th)
|align=center | 1932
|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], United States
|-
|Vth IAU General Assembly (5th)
|align=center | 1935
|[[Paris]], France
|-
|VIth IAU General Assembly (6th)
|align=center | 1938
|[[Stockholm]], Sweden
|-
|VIIth IAU General Assembly (7th)
|align=center | 1948
|[[Zürich]], Switzerland
|-
|VIIIth IAU General Assembly (8th)
|align=center | 1952
|[[Rome]], Italy
|-
|IXth IAU General Assembly (9th)
|align=center | 1955
|[[Dublin]], Ireland
|-
|Xth IAU General Assembly (10th)
|align=center | 1958
|[[Moscow]], Soviet Union
|-
|XIth IAU General Assembly (11th)
|align=center | 1961
|[[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]], United States
|-
|XIIth IAU General Assembly (12th)
|align=center | 1964
|[[Hamburg]], West Germany
|-
|XIIIth IAU General Assembly (13th)
|align=center | 1967
|[[Prague]], Czechoslovakia
|-
|XIVth IAU General Assembly (14th)
|align=center | 1970
|[[Brighton]], [[England]], United Kingdom
|-
|XVth IAU General Assembly (15th)
|align=center | 1973
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|-
|XVIth IAU General Assembly (16th)
|align=center | 1976
|[[Grenoble]], France
|-
|XVIIth IAU General Assembly (17th)
|align=center | 1979
|[[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada
|-
|XVIIIth IAU General Assembly (18th)
|align=center | 1982
|[[Patras]], Greece
|-
|XIXth IAU General Assembly (19th)
|align=center | 1985
|[[New Delhi]], India
|-
|XXth IAU General Assembly (20th)
|align=center | 1988
|[[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], United States
|-
|XXIst IAU General Assembly (21st)
|align=center | 1991
|[[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
|-
|XXIInd IAU General Assembly (22nd)
|align=center | 1994
|[[The Hague]], Netherlands
|-
|XXIIIrd IAU General Assembly (23rd)
|align=center | 1997
|[[Kyoto]], Japan
|-
|XXIVth IAU General Assembly (24th)
|align=center | 2000
|[[Manchester]], [[England]], United Kingdom
|-
|XXVth IAU General Assembly (25th)
|align=center | 2003
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|-
|XXVIth IAU General Assembly (26th)
|align=center | 2006
|[[Prague]], Czech Republic
|-
|XXVIIth IAU General Assembly (27th)
|align=center | 2009
|[[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
|-
|XXVIIIth IAU General Assembly (28th)
|align=center | 2012
|[[Beijing]], China
|-
|XXIXth IAU General Assembly (29th)
|align=center | 2015
|[[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], United States
|-
|XXXth IAU General Assembly (30th)
|align=center | 2018
|[[Vienna]], Austria
|-
|XXXIst IAU General Assembly (31st)
|align=center | 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2009/|title=International Astronomical Union &#124; IAU|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118210320/https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2009/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|[[Busan]], South Korea
|-
|XXXIInd IAU General Assembly (32nd)
|align=center | 2024
|[[Cape Town]], South Africa<ref>{{cite web |title=Homepage – IAU General Assembly 2024 – Cape Town |url=https://astronomy2024.org/ |access-date=24 October 2023 |language=en-ZA |date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
|XXXIIIrd IAU General Assembly (33rd)
|align=center | 2027
|[[Rome]], Italy<ref>{{cite web |title=iau2410 — Press Release
 |url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2410/|access-date=16 August 2024 |language=en |date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
|XXXIVth IAU General Assembly (34th)
|align=center | 2030
|[[Santiago]], Chile<ref>{{cite web |title=iau2410 — Press Release
|url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2410  |access-date=16 August 2024 |language=en |date=16 August 2024}}</ref>
|}

==List of the presidents of the IAU==
Sources.<ref>{{cite web
  |title       = Past Executive Committee
  |work       = International Astronomical Union
  |url       = https://www.iau.org/administration/executive_bodies/past_committees/executive_committee/
  |access-date       = 18 September 2018
  |archive-date       = 18 September 2018
  |archive-url       = https://web.archive.org/web/20180918231155/https://www.iau.org/administration/executive_bodies/past_committees/executive_committee/
  |url-status       = dead
  }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Колчинский И. Г., Корсунь А. А., Родригес М. Г. |title=Астрономы. Биографический справочник| year=1977 |location=Киев: Наукова Думка | language=ru}}</ref>
{|
|valign="top"|
* (1919–1922) {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} [[Benjamin Baillaud]]
* (1922–1925) {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[William Wallace Campbell]]
* (1925–1928) {{flagicon|NED}} [[Willem de Sitter]]
* (1928–1932) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Frank Watson Dyson]]
* (1932–1935) {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Frank Schlesinger]]
* (1935–1938) {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} [[Ernest Esclangon]]
* (1938–1944) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Arthur Eddington]]
* (1944–1948) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Harold Spencer Jones]]
* (1948–1952) {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Bertil Lindblad]]
* (1952–1955) {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Otto Struve]]
* (1955–1958) {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} [[André-Louis Danjon]]
|width="33"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
* (1958–1961) {{flagicon|NED}} [[Jan Oort]]
* (1961–1964) {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Victor Ambartsumian]]
* (1964–1967) {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Pol Swings]]
* (1967–1970) {{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Otto Heckmann]]
* (1970–1973) {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Bengt Strömgren]]
* (1973–1976) {{flagicon|USA}} [[Leo Goldberg]]
* (1976–1979) {{flagicon|NED}} [[Adriaan Blaauw]]
* (1979–1982) {{flagicon|IND}} [[Vainu Bappu]]
* (1982–1985) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Robert Hanbury Brown]]
* (1985–1988) {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Jorge Sahade]]
* (1988–1991) {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yoshihide Kozai]]
|width="33"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
* (1991–1994) {{flagicon|RUS|1991}} [[Alexandr Boyarchuk]]
* (1994–1997) {{flagicon|NED}} [[Lodewijk Woltjer]]
* (1997–2000) {{flagicon|USA}} [[Robert Kraft (astronomer)|Robert Kraft]]
* (2000–2003) {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Franco Pacini]]
* (2003–2006) {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ronald Ekers]]
* (2006–2009) {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Catherine Cesarsky]]
* (2009–2012) {{flagicon|USA}} [[Robert Williams (astronomer)|Robert Williams]]
* (2012–2015) {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Norio Kaifu]]
* (2015–2018) {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Silvia Torres-Peimbert]]
* (2018–2021) {{flagicon|NED}} [[Ewine van Dishoeck]]
* (2021–2024) {{flagicon|USA}} [[Debra Elmegreen]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Astronomical Union|url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2106/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=www.iau.org}}</ref>
* (2024–present) {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Willy Benz]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Executive Committee | url=https://www.iau.org/Iau/About/Governance-Overview/Executive-Committee.aspx }}</ref>
|}

== Commission 46: Education in astronomy ==
Commission 46 is a Committee of the Executive Committee of the IAU, playing a special role in the discussion of astronomy development with governments and scientific academies. The IAU is affiliated with the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), a non-governmental organization representing a global membership that includes both national scientific bodies and international scientific unions. They often encourage countries to become members of the IAU. The Commission further seeks to development, information or improvement of astronomical education. Part of Commission 46, is Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD) program in countries where there is currently very little astronomical education. Another program is named the Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP), is a project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, among which [[Hands-on universe|Hands-On Universe]] that will concentrate more resources on education activities for children and schools designed to advance sustainable global development. GTTP is also concerned with the effective use and transfer of astronomy education tools and resources into classroom science curricula. A strategic plan for the period 2010–2020 has been published.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iau.org/education/strategic_plan/| title = Astronomy for the Developing World, Building from the IYA 2009, Strategic Plan 2010–20| access-date = 24 August 2009| archive-date = 17 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090917172113/http://www.iau.org/education/strategic_plan/| url-status = dead}}</ref>

== Publications ==
[[File:Cover picture of CAPjournal issue 19 (ann16014a).jpg|thumb|upright|Cover picture of ''CAP Journal'' issue 19, March 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=CAPjournal Rosetta Special Out Now|url=http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann16018/|access-date=28 March 2016}}</ref>]]

In 2004 the IAU contracted with the [[Cambridge University Press]] to publish the ''Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union|url=http://journals.cambridge.org//action/displayJournal?jid=IAU|website=Cambridge Journals Online|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>

In 2007, the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal Working Group prepared a study assessing the feasibility of the ''Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal'' (''CAP Journal'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Russo |first1=P. |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008ca07.conf..190R |title=The Communicating Astronomy with the Public journal: A study from the IAU Division XII Commission 55 CAPjournal Working Group |last2=Christensen |first2=L. L. |last3=Iau Commission 55 Capjournal Working Group |journal=Communicating Astronomy with the Public |date=2008-06-01|page=190 |bibcode=2008ca07.conf..190R }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of astronomy acronyms]]
* [[Astronomical naming conventions]]
* [[List of proper names of stars]]
* [[Planetary nomenclature]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|
|refs=

<ref name="IAU-Centres">{{cite web
  |title       = Centres – Minor Planet Center
  |work       = International Astronomical Union
  |url       = http://www.iau.org/science/scientific_bodies/centres/
  |access-date       = 20 April 2016
  |archive-date       = 8 April 2020
  |archive-url       = https://web.archive.org/web/20200408155024/https://iau.org/science/scientific_bodies/centres/
  |url-status       = dead
  }}</ref>

<ref name="IAU-About">{{cite web
  |title       = About the IAU
  |work        = International Astronomical Union
  |url         = http://www.iau.org/about/
  |access-date = 11 October 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="NYT-20140804">{{cite news
  |last        = Overbye |first=Dennis
  |author-link  = Dennis Overbye
  |work        = [[The New York Times]]
  |title       = You Won't Meet the Beatles in Space – Plan to Liven Official Naming of Stars and Planets Hits Clunky Notes
  |date        = 4 August 2014
  |url         = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/science/plan-to-liven-official-naming-of-stars-and-planets-hits-clunky-notes.html
  |access-date  = 11 October 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="IAUhist">{{cite book
  |last1      = Blaauw |first1=Adriaan
  |title      = History of the IAU : the birth and first half-century of the International Astronomical Union
  |date       = 1994
  |publisher  = [[Kluwer Academic Publishers]]
  |location   = Dordrecht
  |isbn       = 0-7923-2979-1}}</ref>

<ref name="hist-Adams">{{cite journal
  |author     = Adams, Walter S.
  |date       = February 1949
  |title      = The History of the International Astronomical Union
  |journal    = Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
  |volume     = 61
  |issue      = 358
  |page       = 5
  |bibcode    = 1949PASP...61....5A
  |doi        = 10.1086/126108
  |doi-access= free
  }}</ref>

<ref name="National Members">{{cite web |url=https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/national/ |title=National Members |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20230804040653/https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/national/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

{{refbegin}}
* Statutes of the IAU, VII General Assembly (1948), pp. 13–15
{{refend}}

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