INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 131  (FEBRUARY 1997)                      


                                NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name    P (yr)     T       e      W(2000)     1997       Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)  a (")  i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.    1998      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  416          BU 394   142.14   1992.37    0.847   102.1    258.6 0.14   ZULEVIC
00308 N 4732    2.5327    0.689    78.0     2.0    1991.902  263.6 0.19   

 2459          AC 2     282.42   2138.23    0.270    72.8    252.8 1.24   POPOVIC &
03183 S 0056    1.2747    0.978    64.8     0.0    1992.95   253.1 0.24   ZIVKOV

 4038          McA 19 Aa 38.41   1985.82    0.203    88.7    249.7 0.07   OLEVIC &
05271 N 1758    9.3716    0.119   101.8   114.0    1991.902  242.9 0.06   JOVANOVIC

 6862          I 489    147.21   2021.86    0.378   103.4    318.5 0.26   ZULEVIC 
08315 S 1934    2.4454    0.428   115.9   226.7    1993.197  315.9 0.27   

  --           COU 292   23.76   2005.26    0.54   60.0       18.1 0.17   COUTEAU 
10269 N 1931   15.1515    0.155   130.0   214.0    1996.347   10.9 0.16   

16957          AGC 14   630.15   2247.71    0.112   172.6    264.9 0.87   POPOVIC &
23440 N 2882    0.5713    1.614    60.6   241.3    1996.849  265.9 0.87   PAVLOVIC 

  --           SLR 14   118.80   1977.67    0.275    39.9    110.6 0.68   DOCOBO & 
23506 S 5142    3.0303    0.813   154.5   197.9    1996.85   107.0 0.70   LING

  --           FIN 359   22.81   1989.05    0.412    31.3    110.1 0.08   DOCOBO & 
23529 S 0313   15.7826    0.079   138.8   124.6    1995.923   99.8 0.08   LING

  --           FIN 359   22.55   1988.85    0.387    36.8    109.0 0.08   OLEVIC & 
23529 S 0313   15.9619    0.081   134.0   127.4    1994.703   98.1 0.08   JOVANOVIC

===================================================================================

                                NEW DOUBLE STAR

Discovered by: D. Dinescu, E. Horch, T. Girard, W. Van Altena (Yale
University Observatory, USA), C. Lopez (Felix Aguilar Observatory,
Argentina) and O. Franz (Lowell Observatory, USA) using optical
speckle interferometry. 

 STAR    HR     Delta m   Sp       Coord. 2000      1990+   theta    rho      
  
YSJ 1   4143    2 +/- 1   --   103256.9 S 470012   5.1025    99.2   0.420

===================================================================================

                        PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1996                      

 1) ANOSOVA, et al.: "Triple star systems as producers of high velocity
    stars in the galaxy".  Astrophys. Space Science 236, 293 (1996).

 2) AL-SHUKRI, A. M.: "ICCD Speckle obserations of binary stars XII.
    Measurements during 1984-1986 from the Perkins 1,8 m.  telescope".
    Astron. J. 111(1), 408 (1996).

 3) CARQUILLAT, J. M.; GINESTET, N.: "Contribution to the study of F G
    K M binaries VII. HD 147395 a M giant spectroscopic binary". Astron.
    Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 117, 445  (1996).

 4) TEN BRUMMELAAR, T. A. et al: "Differential binary star photometry
    using adaptative optics system at starfire optical range". Astron. J.
    112(3), 1180 (1996).

 5) HARTKOPF, W. I. et al: "Binary star orbits from speckle
    interferometry. VIII Orbits of 37 close visual systems".  Astron. J.
    111(1), 370 (1996).

 6) HARTKOPF, W. I. et al: "ICCD  speckle observations of binary
    stars.  XIII Measurements during 1989-1994 form the Cerro Tololo 
    4 m telescope". Astron. J. 111(2), 936 (1996).

 7) HEINTZ, W. D.: " Observations of double stars and new pairs.
    XVII".  Astrophys. J. Suppl Ser. 105, 475 (1996).

 8) HEINTZ, W. D.: "A study of multiple-star systems". Astron. J.
    111(1), 408 (1996).

 9) HEINTZ, W. D.: "Orbits of visual binaries".  Astron. J. 111(1), 412
    (1996).

10) HORCH E. P. et al: "Speckle interferometry of southern double stars
    I. First results of the Yale - San Juan speckle interferometry
    program". Astron. J. 111(4), 1681 (1996).

11) JASINTA, D.M.D.: "Provisional orbits for three visual binaries".
    Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 118, 381 (1996)

12) KISELEV, A. A.; ROMANENKO, L. G.: "Dynamical studies of nine wide
    visual binaries in the solar neighborhood". Astron.  Reports 40(6),
    795 (1996).

13) McALISTER, H. A. et al: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars.
    XIV A brief survey for duplicity among white dwarf stars". Astron.
    J.  112(3), 1169 (1996).

14) MASON, B. D. et al: "Binary stars orbits from speckle
    interferometry IX. The nearby solar-type speckle-spectroscopic
    binary Fin 347 Aa".  Astron. J. 112(1), 276 (1996).

15) MASON, B. D.: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars. XV An
    investigation of Lunar occultation systems".  Astron. J. 112(5),
    2260 (1996).

16) SINACHOPOULOS, D.; VAN DESSEL, E. L.: "VRI photometry of wide
    double stars  V. Double Stars with mainly K- and M- type primaries".
    Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 119, 483 (1996).

17) THOREL, J. C.: "Measures and discoveries of visual double stars
    made with the 50 cm refractor at the NIce Observatory".  Astron.
    Astrophys. 115, 59 (1996).

===================================================================================

    The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 132 is:
     
                            June 15th 1997                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN



INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 132  (JUNE 1997)                      


                                NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name    P (yr)     T       e      W(2000)     1997       Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)  a (")  i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.    1998      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  805          BU 302   449.8    2040.00    0.374    62.7    178.8 0.40   POPOVIC &
00583 N 2124    0.8003    0.550    21.5   185.2    1991.896  180.2 0.40   PAVLOVIC

  805          BU 302   481.19   2123.28    0.015    94.0    177.6 0.43   ZULEVIC
00583 N 2124    0.7482    0.710    52.7   182.4    1991.896  178.8 0.43   

  832          A 926    750.2    2640.8     0.453    55.8    331.7 0.41   POPOVIC & 
01011 N 6022    0.4799    0.548    33.5   171.0    1988.661  332.3 0.41   PAVLOVIC 

12033          HU 940   111.59   1939.79    0.784    31.7    198.9 0.54   DOCOBO 
19055 N 3352    3.2553    0.316   129.2   18.5    1996.698   198.5 0.54   & LING

===================================================================================

    The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 133 is: 

                                October 15th 1997


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN



INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 133  (OCTOBER 1997)                      


                                NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name     P (yr)     T      e      W(2000)     1997       Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)   a (")  i (deg)  w (deg)  Last ob.    1998      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   48          STT 547AB  374.24  2072.33   0.551    20.8    181.0 6.039  OLEVIC &   
00057 N 4549    0.9620      6.634   64.6  273.2    1994.796  181.4 6.036  JOVANOVIC

 6526          A 1580     152.39  2028.81   0.786   114.4    274.0 0.276  OLEVIC &   
08017 S 0836    2.3624      0.482   80.4  268.7    1991.9052 274.7 0.279  JOVANOVIC

10374          BU 118      87.60  1936.88   0.954    39.2    244.8 0.53   DOCOBO 
17103 S 1544    4.1096      1.519   94.9  274.5    1996.69   243.9 0.54   & LING

  --           FIN 328     18.721 1977.01   0.841    49.2    183.8 0.249  OLEVIC &   
21044 S 1951   19.2296      0.392  119.4   96.1    1992.4498 172.5 0.277  JOVANOVIC 

16157          A 2099     232.63  1917.63   0.437   168.8    161.3 0.67   DOCOBO 
22401 N 0112    1.5475      0.568   75.7  178.2    1997.679  161.6 0.68   & LING

===================================================================================

                            THE VARIABILITY OF COU 14

V.S.Tamazian, J.A.Docobo and N.D. Melikian report an integral brightness variation 
of visual double star COU 14 = WDS 21501N1717 by 0.3mag. in standard V passband 
registered during recent photometric observations performed at Byurakan Observatory, 
(Armenia) in July-September, 1997.

Probably, the secondary component is T Tau type variable with an amplitude of more 
than 3mag. More details in IBVS No.4515 are given. 

These observations confirm the variability suggested by P.Couteau.

===================================================================================

                                      REPORT
              Commission 26, Division IV Double and Multiple Stars 


President:             H. Zinnecker 
Vice-President:        C. Scarfe 
Organizing Committee:  C. Allen 
                       J. Armstrong 
                       W. Hartkopf 
                       R. Mathieu  
                       A. Tokovinin 
                       M. Valtonen 
                       C. Worley (ex-officio) 

New members:           R. Hindsley (USA)          C. Prieto      (Spain)
                       C. Hummel   (Germany)      G. Torres      (USA)
                       D. Jassur   (Iran)         S. Soederhjelm (Sweden)
                       E. Martin   (Spain)        J. Wang        (China,PR)
                       R. Mathieu  (USA) 

Consultant:            B. Mason     (USA) 

Necrology: I regret to inform you of the deaths of the follwing members:
                       P. Baize                   A. Shul'berg
                       W. Luyten                  P. van de Kamp

A business meeting of the Commission was held at Kyoto on Aug. 22, 1997. As 
expected, attendance was small (9 members). Results of the mail ballot resulted 
in the election to office of those names starred above. As is customary, the 
former Vice-President, Dr. Zinnecker, succeeds to the Presidency.

There was a brief discussion of the future direction the Commission might take, 
and there was general agreement that this would undoubtedly involve the 
combination of the classical astrometry and spectroscopy of binary stars with 
rapidly growing and much more accurate modern techniques. Also, it was 
emphasized that a true understanding of the mechanisms of star formation cannot 
be attained without accounting for the large number of binary and multiple stars
extant.

Two important meetings concerning binary and multiple stars occurred in 1995 
(Calgary, Canada) and 1996 (Santiago de Compostela, Spain). Dr. Zinnecker 
tentatively proposed a future Symposium about the year 2000 on general topics of 
interest. Worley reported on the present status of the Washington Visual Double 
Star Catalog and the Orbit Catalog, as well as the progress of the speckle 
program and the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer.
 
                                              Charles E. Worley 
                                              President 1994-97

===================================================================================

                                 NEW DOUBLE STAR 

 Par  m(pg)      RA     sa       DEC    sd    mua smua   mud smua   N    ep   mem
                      (0.001s)        (0"001)  (mas/yr)  (mas/yr)     (1950.+)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1052  14.40  053255.592  2   -054348.99  1    27.0 0.7   17.3 0.4   9   -7.4   0
1058  14.40  053256.838  2   -054405.78  2    26.8 0.8   16.9 0.5  10   -3.5   0

Par: Parenago (1954) number
RA, Dec: epoch 1950, equinox 2000, positions in Hipparcos reference system.
sa, sd: accuracies on RA, Dec.
mua, mud: Proper motion, transformed to PPM system (mu-a cos d, mu-d)
smua, smud: errors on proper motions
N: number of plates used
ep: mean epoch of plates used.
mem: membership probability

In a recent study of proper motions in the Orion cluster region we discovered what 
seems to be a new double star (a proper motion pair), with a separation of 25" and 
minimal differences in the proper motions.

The positions are in the Hipparcos reference frame. The little information I have on 
the (very similar) colours of these stars indicate early K-type dwarfs, at an 
estimated distance of 120 to 200 pc.

The data given above come from K. P. Tian, F. van Leeuwen, J. L. Zhao and C. G. Su. 
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 118, 503 (1996). 

                                              Floor van Leeuwen
                                              Royal Greenwich Observatory
                                              Cambridge U.K.

===================================================================================

The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 134 is:
     
                            February 15th 1998                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN



INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 134  (FEBRUARY 1998)                      


                                NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS          Name      P (yr)     T      e      W(2000)      1998       Author
 RA 2000 DEC   n (deg)   a (")  i (deg)  w (deg)  Last ob.     1999      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   48         STT 547AB  374.24  2072.33   0.551    20.8     181.0 6.039  OLEVIC &   
00057+4549     0.9620      6.634   64.6  273.2    1994.796   181.4 6.036  JOVANOVIC

 6549         STT 187    235.0   1937.0    0.71    219.0     346.9 0.38   MASON &
08041+3302     1.53        0.349  132.9   86.0    1994.1523  346.3 0.38   HARTKOPF

 7341         A 2477     600.0   1914.5    0.546   248.3     347.6 0.43   MASON &
09245+1808     0.60        0.726   49.6  341.0    1995.28    348.5 0.44   HARTKOPF

  --          FIN 47       7.54  1983.2    0.36    224.0     236.4 0.05   MASON &
11053-2718    47.74        0.142   98.0  328.0    1996.1783  218.0 0.09   HARTKOPF

 8446         STF 1606   744.0   1993.24   0.693   125.2     185.5 0.31   MASON &
12108+3953     0.484       1.267  136.4  275.1    1997.39    181.3 0.31   HARTKOPF

 8862         HU 644      48.91  1968.55   0.229    91.09    121.1 0.28   MASON & 
13198+4747     7.360       1.507   94.45  73.55   1997.41    110.1 0.42   HARTKOPF

 8987         BU 612      22.46  1929.84   0.56     37.0      73.3 0.09   MASON &
13395+1046    16.02        0.200   42.6  357.0    1997.1263  119.6 0.10   HARTKOPF 

  --          COU 1757    61.2   1998.7    0.49     10.1     273.6 0.07   MANTE 
14260+4213     5.8824      0.247   58.2  280.3    1992.408   309.0 0.07    

 9617         STF 1937    41.591 1933.884  0.2759  203.3      53.5 0.87   MASON &
15232+3017     8.6557      0.871   57.6   38.5    1997.2684   58.3 0.81   HARTKOPF

  --          COU 982    180.0   1990.1    0.438    78.8      78.2 0.24   MANTE 
16216+3631     2.0         0.398   31.6  316.8    1993.501    82.2 0.25   

  --          COU 321     71.02  1997.27   0.408   138.1     307.7 0.08   DOCOBO 
19180+2012     5.0690      0.165  102.8  209.9    1995.7620  302.1 0.06   & LING

16800         BU 1266     48.4   1910.0    0.43    249.0      36.7 0.17   MASON &
23304+3050     7.44        0.189  142.0  335.0    1996.8628   30.0 0.16   HARTKOPF

16886         A 1493     119.0   2014.7    0.170    44.3     331.8 0.13   DOCOBO 
23382+5514     3.0252      0.155  158.0  141.3    1995.9153  328.0 0.13   & LING

===================================================================================

     
                         CHARLES EDMUND WORLEY, 1935-1997

     Charles Worley, 62, Astronomer at the U.S.  Naval Observatory, died
unexpectedly on Dec. 31,1997, after a short illness.  He was born on May
22, 1935, in Iowa City, Iowa, and grew up in Des Moines where his father
was a doctor.  He became interested in astronomy at age nine.  His first
observational work as an amateur astronomer was plotting and recording
of more than 10,000 meteors for the American Meteor Society.  Continuing
his love for astronomy he attended Swarthmore College where he took part
in the parallax program.  He also met the other love of his life, his
wife, Jane.  He obtained a B.A. in mathematics from San Jose State
College in 1959.  He worked for the Lick Observatory in California
(1959-1961) as a research astronomer under a Naval Research grant to
observe double stars.  Since arriving at the U.S.  Naval Observatory in
1961, he was the motive force behind an extensive program of double star
observation (being, himself, a prolific observer having the second
largest number of double star measurements ever achieved by one person),
instrumental innovation, and double star cataloging.  He quickly gained
recognition as one of the world's leading experts in the field of double
star astronomy.
 
     In 1965 Charles arranged for the database of double star data, the
Index Catalogue of Visual Double Stars (IDS), to be transferred from the
Lick Observatory to the USNO.  This database has become a truly
comprehensive resource under his guidance, and is formally recognized as
the international source of double star data by the International
Astronomical Union (IAU).  He updated the database on a continuing basis
adding 290,400 observational records to the original 179,000 and
increasing the original 64,000 systems by an additional 17,100 through
careful literature searches and extensive communication with other
double star observers throughout the world.  During the past three years
he extended the scope and utility of the database, now known as the
Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS) by adding accurate photometric
data, improved spectral types, and identification information.  The
project was completed in 1996, and the revised WDS is available on the
world wide web.  Most recently he oversaw the addition of 15,000
Hipparcos Catalog double stars into the WDS.  Requests for information
from the WDS database arrive daily from astronomers all over the world.
 
     In collaboration with William Finsen and later Wulff Heintz,
Charles produced two Catalogs of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars, the most
recent published in 1983.  At the time of his death he was preparing
what would have been a new version.
 
     In recent years an accurate knowledge of double and multiple star
separations, position angles, and orbital motions has become
increasingly important to astronomy.  It is now realized that not only
must double stars be identified and calibrated in order to produce the
best astrometric catalogs of stellar positions, but also the varying
centers of emission at different wavelength bands must be taken into
account to meet modern high-precision astrometric needs.  For Charles's
contribution to this aspect of astrometry, he received the 1994 U.S.
Naval Observatory Simon Newcomb Award for Scientific Research
Achievement.
 
     In 1991 he was elected as vice-president of Commission 26 of the
IAU (Multiple & Double Stars) and became president of that commission at
the IAU General Assembly in 1994.  He was a member of IAU Commission 5,
the American Astronomical Society, including the AAS Historical
Astronomy Division, and the Royal Astronomical Society.  He was also an
active supporter of the amateur community, and published a series of
articles in Sky and Telescope and produced the double star section of
the "Observer's Handbook".
 
     During his career Charles made over 40,000 measures of double and
multiple stars using the USNO filar micrometer on telescopes in the
northern and southern hemispheres.  In 1990 he obtained a speckle
interferometer in order to improve the accuracy of double star
measurements.  During the past seven years he oversaw improvements in
both instrumentation and software implementation that resulted in making
the USNO the world's second largest producer of double star observations
using a speckle interferometer.  Under Charles's direction more than
9,200 observations were made with the speckle interferometer on 1,100
systems down to separations of one-fifth of an arcsecond, the
theoretical limit of the 26-inch refractor.  Recently the speckle
interferometer has been used to observe Hipparcos problem stars on the
McDonald 2.1-m Otto Struve telescope.  His special interest in nearby
stars led to the discovery of 39 new, cool stellar companions.  These
companions which are faint and difficult to observe provide critical
census information on the solar neighborhood.  From 1954 to 1997 he
published some 75 professional papers primarily on double star astronomy
and gave numerous invited presentations at meetings.  He was known for
exacting standards and high quality best typified by his paper
challenging all other double star observers; ``Is This Orbit Really
Necessary?"
 
     We are reminded of a favorite quote of Charles' from Paul Couteau's
book ``Observing Visual Double Stars":

      ``Do not forget that an astronomer who observes perfect
        images visually is a wild beast who devours his prey.
        Do not disturb him under any pretext.  Let nature take
        its course".
 
     Charles will be sorely missed by his many friends and colleagues.

                                              Geoffrey G. DOUGLASS
                                              Thomas E. CORBIN
                                              Brian D. MASON
                                              U. S. Naval Observatory

===================================================================================

                              ANNOUNCEMENT 

 
     We are at present considering changes to the format of the Washington
Double Star Catalog. Some suggestions thus far have been minor (e.g., 
increasing the number of digits in the 2000 coordinate for greater accuracy).
However, it is possible that other changes are needed. We encourage all users 
of the WDS to look at its current structure  and to please make suggestions 
either on the web Comment form, via email or postal mail (addresses below).
 
     As the official double star database of the IAU ICRS working group, 
we are endeavoring to make certain that all double star measurements are
included in the database. A complete list of all references included thus far 
is available at . If possible, please check to see that all of your references 
are included. If you find any omissions, they can be enumerated on the web 
Comment form, via email or postal mail.
 
     In this task, we are also asking double star observers in the future 
to send via email the tabular data in ASCII format of double star measures 
after or at the time of publication. 

                               Brian Mason
                               bdm@draco.usno.navy.mil
                               Astrometry Dept., 
                               US Naval Observatory
                               3450 Massachusetts Ave., NW
                               Washington, DC 20392-5420
                               USA

===================================================================================

                            PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1997

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP VISUAL DOUBLE STARS:
FORMATION, DYNAMICS AND EVOLUTIONARY TRACKS. Docobo, J. A., Elipe, A.
and McAlister, H. A. (editors).  Kluwer Academic Publishers. ASSL 223,
(1997)

 1. ARISTIDI, E. et al.: "Imaging binary stars by the cross-correlation
    technique", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 125, 139 (1997)

 2. ARISTIDI, E. et al.: "ICCD speckle observations of binary stars:
    Measurements during 1994-1995", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 126,
    555 (1997)

 3. BALEGA, I. I. et al: "Speckle interferometry of the sppectroscopic
    binaries Gliese 150.2 and 41 Draconis", Astron. Letters 23 (2), 172
    (1997).

 4. DOUGLASS, G. G., HINDSLEY, R. B. & WORLEY, C. E.: "Speckle
    Interferometry at U.S. Naval Observatory. I", Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser.
    111, 289 (1997).

 5. FEKEL, F. C. et al.: "New and improved parameters of HD 202908 =
    ADS 14839: A spectroscopic-visual triple system", Astron. J. 111 (3),
    1095 (1997).

 6. GIES, D. R. et al: "The O-Type binary 15 Monocerotis nears
   periastron", Astrophys. J.  475, L49 (1997).

 7. HARTKOPF, W. I. et al: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars
    XVII.  Measurements during 1993-1995 from the Mount Wilson 2.5-M
    Telescope", Astron. J.  114 (4), 1639 (1997).

 8. HEINTZ, W.D.: "Orbits of 40 visual binaries", Astrophys. J. Suppl.
    Ser.  111, 335 (1997).

 9. HOLMGREN, D. et al.: "Search for forced oscillations in binaries
    II.  Beta Scorpii. A new physical parameters and a search for line
    profile variability", Astron. Astrophys. 322, 565 (1997).

10. HORCH, E. P. et al: "CCD Speckle observations of binary stars from
    the southern hemisphere", Astron. J. 114 (5), 2117 (1997).

11. HSIEH-HAI, F. et al: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars
    XVI.  Measurements during 1982-1989 from Perkins 1.8-M Telescope",
    Astron. J. 114 (4), 1623 (1997).

12. INNANEN, K. A. et al.: "The Kozai mechanism and the stability of
    planetary orbits in binary star systems", Astron. J. 113 (5), 1915
    (1997).

13. LINDEGREN, L. et al.: "Double star data in Hipparcos Catalogue",
    Astron.  Astrophys. 323, L53 (1997).

14. LING, J. F. & PRIETO, C.: "Micrometer measurements of visual
    double stars made atn the Cote D'Azur Observatory",  Astron, Nach.
    318 (6), 365, (1997).

15. MARTIN, C. et al.: "Mass determination of astrometric binaries with
    Hipparcos I. Theory and simulation", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.
    122, 571 (1997)

16. MASON, B. D.: "Binary star orbits from speckle interferometry. IX.
    Orbits of twelve lunar occultations systems", Astron. J. 114 (2),
    808 (1997).

17. MASON, B. D. et al.: "Binary star orbits from speckle
    interferometry. X.  Speckle-spectroscopic orbits of HR 233, 36 Tau
    and 73 Leo", Astron. J. 114 (4), 1607 (1997).

18. MASON, B. D. et al.: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars
    XVIII.  An investigation of Be stars", Astron. J. 114 (5), 2112
    (1997).

19. MAYER, P.: "The three-body system V505 Sagittarii", Astron.
    Astrophys. 324, 988 (1997).

20. MULLER, P.: "Double star measurements made at Nice", Astron.
    Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 126, 273 (1997)

21. NAKOS, T., SINACHOPOULOS, D. & VAN DESSEL, E.: "UBV absolute CCD
    photometry and differential astrometry of close visual double
    stars, with G-type primaries", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 123,
    353 (1997)

22. POPOVIC, G. M. & PAVLOVIC, R.: "CCD measurements of double and
    multiple stars in Belgrade", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 123, 487
    (1997)

23. POPOVIC, G. M. & PAVLOVIC, R.: "Micrometer measurements of double
    stars (Series 50)", Bull. Astron. Belgrade 155, 97 (1997)

24. PRIETO, C.: "Micrometer measurements of southern double stars made
    at the Observatory of Llano del Hato at Merida (Venezuela)",
    Astron.  Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.  121, 405 (1997)

25. PRIETO, C. & DOCOBO, J. A.: "Analythic solution of the two-body
    problem with slowly decreasing mass", Astron. Astrophys. 318, 657
    (1997).

26. RICHICHI, A. et al.: "New binary stars discovered by lunar
    occultations III", Astron. Astrophys. 322, 202 (1997).

27. SCHOLZ, G. et al.: "A spectroscopic study of the binary star Gamma
    Gem", Astron. Astrophys. 320, 791 (1997)

28. STRAND, K. A. & KALLARAKAL, V. V.: "Photovisual magnitude
    differences for 169 double stars", Astron. J. 113 (5), 1884 (1997).

29. TOKOVININ, A. A.: "On the multiplicity of spectroscipic binary
    stars", Astron. Letters 23 (6), 727 (1997).

30. TOKOVININ, A. A.: "Orbits of new spectroscopic components in 7
    multiple systems", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 121, 71 (1997)

31. TOKOVININ, A. A.: "MSC - a catalogue of physical multiple stars",
    Astron.  Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 124, 75 (1997)

32. TORRES, G., STEFANIK, R. P. & LATHAN, D. W.: "The Hyades binary
    Finsen 342 (70 Tauri): A double-lined spectroscopic orbit, the
    distance to the cluster, and the mass-luminosity relation",
    Astrophys. J.  479, 268 (1997).

33. TORRES, G., STEFANIK, R. P. & LATHAN, D. W.: "The Hyades binaries
    Theta 1 Tauri and  Theta 2 Tauri: The distance to to the cluster,
    and the mass-luminosity relation", Astrophys. J.  485, 167 (1997).

34. VALTONEN, M. J.: "Mass ratios in wide binary stars", Astrophys. J.
    485, 785 (1997).

35. WORLEY, C. E. & DOUGLASS G. G.: "The Washington double star catalog
    (WDS 1996.0)", Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 125, 523 (1997)

===================================================================================

The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 135 is:
     
                            June 15th 1998                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 135  (JUNE 1998)                      


                                NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name     P (yr)     T      e      W(2000)     1998       Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)   a (")  i (deg)  w (deg)  Last ob.    1999      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  674         A 921      146.58  2003.38   0.582   160.5     190.2 0.092  OLEVIC &
00491+5720     2.4561      0.213   56.7   90.6    1991.9043  196.8 0.081  JOVANOVIC

              I 263     1100.    1939.9    0.773   223.9     262.9 0.535  MASON &
01220-6943     0.3273      2.043   71.7  317.2    1991.713   263.9 0.532  HARTKOPF

 2849         A 1831     234.70  1978.57   0.258    84.0     217.4 0.142  OLEVIC &
03545+0511     1.5339      0.208   39.6   76.4    1991.9047  219.8 0.145  JOVANOVIC

 2965         MCA 13 Aa   19.19  1984.23   0.140   156.3       3.6 0.040  OLEVIC & 
04044+2406    18.7630      0.041  137.9  261.8    1990.7551  349.1 0.041  JOVANOVIC

 3370         HU 442     248.15  1988.71   0.129   177.9     108.4 0.148  PAVLOVIC 
04400+2301     1.4507      0.454   69.3  259.9    1991.902   113.0 0.153  & ZIVKOV

 3608         A 1844      25.14  1949.69   0.325   105.7     146.0 0.190  MASON &
05017+2640    14.3198      0.260   20.7   96.2    1996.8662  172.7 0.171  HARTKOPF

 3799         STT 517 AB 530.    1924.8    0.887    87.0     238.6 0.602  MASON &
05134+0158     0.6792      0.527   14.9  354.0    1997.1224  238.8 0.607  HARTKOPF

 4265         BU 1007    114.88  1941.25   0.869    48.4     242.7 0.297  DOCOBO 
05413+1632     3.1337      0.316   81.8   61.1    1991.9050  243.0 0.294  & LING

 6138         A 2869     113.28  1995.62   0.819   104.5     137.5 0.067  OLEVIC & 
07305+0743     3.1780      0.260  127.3  226.0    1993.2050  125.5 0.093  JOVANOVIC

 6291         STF 1130  1000.    1981.1    0.811   328.6      15.7 0.379  MASON &
07417+0942     0.3600      1.858   52.3  346.1    1995.9271   18.7 0.381  HARTKOPF

              I 879       38.71  1935.53   0.788   290.7     139.1 0.371  MASON &
11210-5429     9.2999      0.259   54.8   35.0    1997.1177  140.8 0.357  HARTKOPF

              WOR 24      21.18  1986.02   0.637   104.3      19.9 0.384  DOCOBO
13320+3109    16.9972      0.272  150.7  258.3    1997.391    14.0 0.374  & BALEGA

              HWE 28 AB  292.11  1957.55   0.686   111.5     309.5 0.958  LING &   
13535-3540     1.2324      1.329   71.8  93.5     1997.115   310.1 0.959  PRIETO

              RST 4529    22.99  1993.57   0.506    14.7     250.7 0.186  DOCOBO &   
14310-0548    15.6590      0.244   49.9  119.4    1997.394   265.1 0.193  TAMAZIAN

 9380         STF 1879   253.5   1866.0    0.699   251.2      86.5 1.686  MASON &   
14463+0940     1.4229      1.111  117.7  327.8    1997.47     86.3 1.690  HARTKOPF

 9397         A 2983       9.98  1988.059  0.491   142.3     302.0 0.061  BALEGA &    
14493+1014    36.0722      0.127   45.8  156.8    1997.394    18.1 0.072  VASYUK

              HJ 4707    346.0   1933.9    0.390    60.7     286.4 0.821  MASON &   
14542-6625     1.0405      1.577  113.8  359.4    1997.1180  285.0 0.841  HARTKOPF

 9453         BU 239     429.19  2217.25   0.337   126.6     359.5 0.527  LING &    
14587-2739     0.8388      0.836   66.9   75.5    1998.137     0.2 0.523  PRIETO

              COU 985     27.17  1993.65   0.772   175.7      32.4 0.173  DOCOBO
16384+3514    13.2499      0.185   50.1   82.2    1997.391    38.1 0.185  & LING

10990         BU 1125 AB 264.38  2070.67   0.264     7.1     122.9 0.561  POPOVIC 
18018+0118     1.3617      0.797   53.3  232.5    1998.402   124.5 0.563  & ZIVKOV

11073         HU 1290    294.94  1985.03   0.257   110.5     348.0 0.206  ZIVKOV &    
18054+6216     1.2206      0.475  120.4   80.6    1998.402   344.9 0.212  PAVLOVIC

13649         BU 984     286.58  2080.01   0.088    44.0     267.5 0.380  PAVLOVIC 
20176+2622     1.2562      0.800   70.2    3.0    1994.80    269.4 0.370  & POPOVIC

              COU 1962    23.65  1979.14   0.340   111.7     307.6 0.142  DOCOBO 
20311+3333    15.2220      0.188   73.0  336.4    1994.791   318.2 0.098  & LING

14333         J 194      143.40  1957.50   0.188    27.9     173.5 0.617  DOCOBO 
20494+1124     2.5105      0.792  121.0  111.6    1994.86    171.4 0.606  & LING

17052         A 2700      30.16  1990.48   0.314    37.7     257.0 0.180  DOCOBO
23517-0637    11.9363      0.180  145.2   11.4    1995.85    248.4 0.194  & LING

17052         A 2700      30.00  1960.35   0.305    24.0     257.8 0.171  MASON &
23517-0637    12.0000      0.173  149.8  357.8    1995.85    248.5 0.184  HARTKOPF

===================================================================================

                                  NEW DOUBLE STAR

Discovered by: Rade Pavlovic with Refractor Zeiss 65/1055 cm at Belgrade 

 STAR        Mgn       Sp       Coord. 2000        1990+     theta    rho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAV 2    10.0 - 11.2  --   17 18 36.6 N 32 28 17   7.502     302.8    3.50

===================================================================================

                                        NOTE 

Paper by  GILI, R. & COUTEAU, P. : "Measurements of double stars made at Nice 
Observatory with the 74 and 50 cm refractors". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 
126, 1 (1997) was missed in PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1997 (Information Circular No. 134).
 
===================================================================================

The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 136 is:
     
                            October 15th 1998                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 136  (OCTOBER 1998)                      


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      1998      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     1999      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              RST 4188    466.03   2395.22    0.782   113.3      23.2 0.493  OLEVIC
01528-0447     0.7725       0.662    47.5   124.0    1995.91     23.6 0.497  JOVANOVIC

 3007         A 998       158.24   2010.16    0.692   170.8     218.8 0.129  PAVLOVIC 
04089+4614     2.2750       0.281   123.8    46.9    1989.813   214.4 0.127   

 3228         BU 1186     410.67   1948.17    0.210   170.2      75.7 0.143  POPOVIC &
04275+1113     0.8766       0.773   102.2    27.3    1995.921    70.5 0.145  PAVLOVIC

 4002         McA 18 Aab,c 19.24   1979.08    0.047   126.5     118.7 0.049  OLEVIC &
05244-0224    18.7138       0.059   103.7    36.5    1995.932   110.5 0.037  JOVANOVIC\

              CHARA 26     14.18   1984.40    0.237    14.4     100.4 0.032  OLEVIC & 
07269+2015    25.3939       0.061    46.6   111.4    1995.9215  154.4 0.039  JOVANOVIC

              COU 1757     49.70   2000.80    0.536    13.3     240.6 0.090  MANTE 
14260+4213     7.2435       0.192    46.1   304.5    1996.415   265.4 0.071   

 9532         B 2351 Aa    23.47   1994.57    0.245   179.0     117.2 0.107  MASON &
15123-1947    15.3387       0.131   152.5   345.6    1997.1322   98.3 0.112  HARTKOPF

              COU 612      56.00   1971.07    0.405   164.4     207.8 0.252  DOCOBO
15390+2545     6.4286       0.212   137.7   131.2    1996.342   204.8 0.257  & LING

              COU 1291     49.62   2011.71    0.302   122.2     288.0 0.174  DOCOBO
17075+3810     7.2551       0.169    61.2   282.4    1996.415   291.1 0.175  & LING

              KUI 83       23.99   1961.21    0.205   334.5     124.1 0.343  MASON &
17370+2743    15.0063       0.288   164.2    23.2    1997.7198  114.0 0.337  HARTKOPF

              CHARA 63     19.15   1999.73    0.008    63.2     230.5 0.082  OLEVIC &
17375+2419    18.8005       0.092   115.2   241.0    1995.1673  218.7 0.068  JOVANOVIC

11023         STF 2275    525.46   2012.87    0.477   131.6     283.1 0.153  POPOVIC 
18033+3921     0.6851       0.679    78.0   142.8    1992.323   285.4 0.162   

12746         HU 953      300.84   2009.73    0.449     8.5     287.7 0.254  ZIVKOV &
19389+3514     1.1967       0.736    54.7   314.7    1995.62    292.9 0.255  POPOVIC

              FIN 328      28.24   2002.70    0.392   152.0      37.2 0.241  MASON &
21044-1951    12.7479       0.266   161.5   219.3    1996.5377   22.3 0.219  HARTKOPF

===================================================================================

                     NOTES CONCERNING THE PREVIOUS CIRCULAR

1. Regarding to Olevic & Jovanovic's orbit for McA 13 Aa, there is an earlier orbit   
   based on speckle and radial velocity data of Mason et al. (A. J. 1997, 114, 1607). 
   Olevic & Jovanovic's orbit is no improvement and was included in I. C. No. 135 by 
   printing error.

2. Dr. B. Mason notes that the double star announced by Dr. R. Pavlovic may be the  
   known double star L 15, the coordinates, magnitudes and relative position are all 
   very similar.

3. The orbit calculated by Olevic & Jovanovic for ADS 2849 (03545+0511) corresponds 
   to the pair BC.

===================================================================================

     
                    IN MEMORIAM, DR. D. J. ZULEVIC (1937 - 1998)

Danilo J. Zulevic, Astronomer at Belgrade Observatory died unexpectedly on July 14, 
1998. He made over 4000 measures of double stars using filar micromerer at Zeiss 
Refractor 65/1055cm of Belgrade Observatory. In IAU Comm. 26 Information Circular's 
(No 50 - 132) he published 58 orbits by 53 binary stars and the duplicity of the 
star BD +33 3323.

                                                                  G.M. Popovic

===================================================================================

                                   ANNOUNCEMENT 

The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) maintains the Washington Double Star 
Catalog (WDS) which is the world's principal database of astrometric double and 
multiple star data. The WDS Catalog contains positions (J2000), discoverer 
designations, epochs, position angles, separations, magnitudes, spectral types, 
proper motions, and, when available, Durchmusterung numbers and Notes for the 
components of more than 81,000 systems based on more than 480,000 means. 

In the past only the most recent (1996.0) published version 
(http://aries.usno.navy.mil/wds/wds.html : A&AS, 125, 523; 1997) was  
available. We are now making available on the web  
(http://aries.usno.navy.mil/wds/wdsnew.html) our working version of the WDS. 
This contains the most recent observational data available and includes systems 
newly discovered by the Hipparcos satellite. While Hipparcos did not provide 
discovery designations these are the primary system identifier in visual double 
star astronomy. A cross reference file of these 3406 systems containing the 
abbreviated coordinate, as well as the HDS and HIP numbers is provided. A cross 
reference of WDS entries which had Hipparcos problem solutions (i.e., the G, X, 
O, V double star solutions as well as those which were suspected non-single) is 
also available. 

Also, new to the WDS is an additional indicator in columns 100-102. This ``D'' 
note code indicates the system has a separate Delta-M determined (in addition to 
those determined during astrometric measures). These results, primarily from 
Charles Worley's Delta-m catalog plus other lunar occultation and 
interferometric determinations will eventually be incorporated in a weighted 
scheme for the magnitude listings of the WDS data line. 

Addition of the Delta-m information as well as other more significant changes to 
the WDS database is currently under consideration. The input from regular users 
of the database and other interested parties is greatly appreciated in our 
efforts to make the WDS as helpful and user-friendly as possible. Please provide 
comments on the format of the WDS, missed references, or any other items of 
interest to you on our Comment form. 

Information is being added to the database on a continuing basis, and this 
edition of the WDS will also be updated regularly. 

In addition to the WDS Hipparcos problem star cross reference we will also be 
adding a preliminary version of the 5th Orbit Catalog to this site soon. 

You may request a reasonable amount of information from the double star catalog 
by e-mail. While our turn around on email requests is less than 24 hours, it is 
our hope to eventually add cgi scripts so the user may get data immediately.

If you have any comments or questions we would be grateful to receive them via 
email (bdm@draco.usno.navy.mil), postal mail (Brian D. Mason, Astrometry 
Department, U. S. Naval Observatory, 3450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 
20392-5420), or via our web comment form 
(http://aries.usno.navy.mil/wds/wds_comment.html).
 
	Brian Mason
	bdm@draco.usno.navy.mil
	Astrometry Dept., 
	US Naval Observatory
	3450 Massachusetts Ave., NW
	Washington, DC 20392-5420
	USA

===================================================================================

The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 137 is:
     
                            February 15th 1999                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 137  (FEBRUARY 1999)                      


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      1999      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     2000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1227         A 1913 AB   275.5    2088.9     0.188   117.2     135.4 0.295  MANTE
01345+3440     1.3067       0.33    111.2    94.3    1991.25    134.8 0.297 

 --           KUI 39       73.17   2020.48    0.463    63.5     138.3 0.569  MANTE 
09175+7715     4.9198       0.592   137.8    67.7    1991.25    134.8 0.562 

 --           COU 2416     61.68   1992.74    0.446    81.7      41.0 0.165  MANTE 
20151+3742     5.8366       0.283    52.7   221.2    1993.663    49.2 0.189 

13611         A 2095 AB   105.51   1916.57    0.890   138.4     151.7 0.233  LING 
20157+4339     3.4120       0.454    94.9    94.6    1997.68    151.2 0.236  

 --           COU 537      45.43   1993.67    0.578    63.4     264.1 0.145  DOCOBO 
22077+2622     7.9243       0.180    39.5    94.9    1995.607   271.2 0.156  & LING

15707         STT 464    1360.20   1985.74    0.557    51.9     171.6 0.265  LING &  
22113+4010     0.2647       0.900    52.8    94.3    1995.79    173.1 0.268  PRIETO 


===================================================================================

                                   ANNOUNCEMENT 

The CATALOGUE DE 2700 ETOILES DOUBLES COU is now available. This is the third updated 
edition of COU double stars catalogue, revised and including trigonometric parallaxes, 
astrometric and photometric parameters measured by Hipparcos satellite for 800 COU
stars.

It can be obtained upon request from:
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur
P. O. Box 4229
06304 Nice Cedex, France
The price is 400 FFr

 P. Couteau


===================================================================================

                             PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1998

1)  ABAD, C., DOCOBO, J. A. & DELLA PRUGNA F.: "CCD and micrometric observations of 
    visual double stars". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 133, 71-79 (1998)

2)  ALZNER, A.: "Measurements of double stars 1993.67 - 1998.13". Astron. Astrophys. 
    Suppl. Ser. 132, 237-252 (1998)

3)  ALZNER, A.: "Orbital elements of 9 visual double stars". Astron. Astrophys. 
    Suppl. Ser. 132, 253-254 (1998)

4)  ANGELOV, T.: "On the distribution of visual double stars".
    Serbian Astronomical Journal, 157, 31-34 (1998)

5)  BARLOW, D. J., SCARFE, C. D. & FEKEL, F. C.: "Physical properties of the binary 
    star 12 Persei." Astron. J. 115, (6), 2555-2560 (1998) 

6)  BENEST, D: "Planetary orbits in the elliptic restricted problem. IV. The ADS 12033 
    system". Astron. Astrophys. 332, 1147-1152 (1998)

7)  CARBILLET, M. et al.: "Speckle imaging of binary stars: Use of ratios of twofold 
    probability density functions". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 127, 569-580 (1998)

8)  DOCOBO, J. A.: "Micrometer measurements of double stars from the Spanish 
    observatories at Calar Alto and Santiago de Compostela". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. 
    Ser. 130, 117 (1998)

9)  DOCOBO, J. A. et al.: "Photometric and polarimetric observations of double and 
    multiple stars".  Astrofizika 41, 389-398 (1998)

10) FERNANDES, J. et al.: "Fundamental stellar parameters for nearby visual binary
    stars: $\eta$ Cas, $\xi$ Boo, 70 Oph and 85 Peg". Astron. Astrophys. 338, 455-464 
    (1998).

11) FRANZ, O. G. et al. : "The first definitive binary orbit determined with the 
    Hubble Space Telescope fine guidance sensors: WOLF 1062 (Gliese 748)" Astron. J. 
    116, (3), 1432-1439 (1998)

12) HEINTZ, W.D.: "Observations of double stars. XVIII". Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 
    117, 587-598 (1998).

13) HERSHEY, J. L. & TAFF, L. G. : "Hubble Space Telescope fine guidance sensor 
    astrometry of the low-mass binary L722-22." Astron. J. 116, (3), 1440-1446 (1998) 

14) HUMMEL, C. A. et al. : "Navy prototipe optical interferometer observations of the 
    double stars Mizar A and Matar." Astron. J. 116, (5), 2536-2548 (1998) 

15) IZMAILOV, I. S. et al.: "Using a CCD camera in Pulkovo programs of observations of 
    binary and multiple stars and satellites of major planets with the 26-inch refractor".
    Astron. Letters 24 (5), 665-672 (1998).

16) KIYAEVA, O. V., TOKOVININ, A. A. & KALINICHENKO, O. A.: "The triple system 
    ADS 9167". Astron. Letters 24 (6), 753-757 (1998).

17) LING, J. A. & PRIETO, C: "Micrometer measusrements of southern double stars made 
    at the national Observatory of Llano del Hato, Venezuela". Rev. Mexicana Astron. 
    Astrof. 34, 111-115 (1998)

18) MALKOV, O., PISKUNOV, A. & ZINNECKER, H.: "On the luminosity ratio of pre-main 
    sequence binaries". Astron. Astrophys. 338, 452-454 (1998).

19) MARTIN, C. & MIGNARD, F.: "Mass determination of astrometric binaries with 
    Hipparcos. II Selection of candidates and results". Astron. Astrophys. 330, 585-599 
    (1998)

20) MARTIN, C. et al. : "Mass determination of astrometric binaries with Hipparcos. 
    III New results for 28 systems". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 133, 149-162 (1998)

21) MASON, B. D. et al.: "ICCD Speckle Observations of Binary Stars XIX. An 
    Astrometric/Spectroscopic Survey of O Stars." Astron. J. 115, (2), 821-847 (1998).

22) MASON, B. D. et al.: "A multiplicity survey of chromospherical active and inactive
    stars." Astron. J. 116, (6), 2965-2974 (1998).

23) OLEVIC, D. & JOVANOVIC, P.: "New and recalculated orbital elements of 5
    double stars". Serbian Astronomical Journal 158, 73-79 (1998)

24) PETR, M. G. et al. : "Binary stars in the Orion trapezium cluster" Astrophys. J.
    500, 825-837 (1998)

25) POPOVIC, G. M.:  "Inclination of the Orbital Planes of Visual Binaries". 
    Serbian Astronomical Journal, 157, 13-17 (1998)

26) POPOVIC G. M., PAVLOVIC, R. & ZIVKOV, V.:  "Catalogue of Double Star 
    Observations made at the Belgrade Observatory - CDSO". Publ. Astron. Obs. Belgrade, 
    60, 114-117 (1998)

27) POPOVIC, G. M. & PAVLOVIC, R.: "Micrometer and CCD measurements of double
    stars (Series 51).", Serbian Astronomical Journal, 158, 67-71 (1998)

28) POURBAIX, D.: "Simultaneous least-squares adjustement of visual and spectroscopic 
    observations of binary stars". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 131, 377-382 (1998)

29) SCHOELLER, M. et al.: "Diffraction-limited speckle masking interferometry of 
    binary stars with the SAO 6-m telescope". Astron. Letters 24 (3), 283-287 (1998).

30) SHATSKII, N. I.: "The nature of visual components in 82 multiple systems".
    Astron. Letters 24 (2), 257-269 (1998).

31) SHATSKII, N. I. & TOKOVININ, A. A.: "A test of Hipparcos parallaxes on multiple 
    stars". Astron. Letters 24 (5), 673-676 (1998).

32) SINACHOPOULOS, D & VAN DESSEL, E.: "CCD astrometry and UBV photometry of visual 
    binaries. II. Visual double stars with mainly G-type primaries and relatively 
    small angular separation". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 130, 229-304 (1998)

33) THOREL J.-C.: "Measures of visual double stars made with the 50 cm refractor at 
    the Nice Observatory (2nd series)". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 132, 29-30 
    (1998)

34) TOKOVININ, A. A.: "On the distrubution of orbital eccentricities of wide visual 
    binary stars". Astron. Letters 24 (2), 178-179 (1998).

35) TOKOVININ, A. A.: "New spectroscopic components in six multiple systems".
    Astron. Letters 24 (3), 288-295 (1998).

36) TOKOVININ, A. A., SHATSKII, N. I. & MAGNITSKII, A. K.: "ADS 9731: A new sextuple 
    system". Astron. Letters 24 (6), 795-801 (1998).

37) VALTONEN, M. J.: "Mass ratios in multiple star systems". Astron. Astrophys. 
    334, 169-172 (1998)
 
38) WORLEY, C. E. & MASON, B. D. : "Micrometer measures of double stars." Astron. 
    J. 116, (2), 971-930 (1998) 

===================================================================================

The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 138 is:
     
                            June 15th 1999                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 138  (JUNE 1999)                      


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      1999      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     2000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1081         FIN 337 BC   27.78   1994.00    0.163   258.8     269.1 0.111  MASON &
01198-0029    12.9573       0.117    21.9   288.0    1994.7085  281.8 0.114  HARTKOPF

 --           DAW 31 AB     4.56   1932.59    0.301    57.4     297.5 0.218  MASON &
01350-2955    78.8868       0.178    21.8    51.3    1991.7129  354.1 0.176  HARTKOPF

 --           COU 750      40.00   2002.46    0.778    27.4     198.9 0.163  DOCOBO 
01450+2703     9.0000       0.298    81.9   263.2    1995.9155  201.7 0.153  & LING

 4299         A 494 AB     20.15   1959.04    0.399    98.2     335.5 0.046  MASON &
05428-0649    17.8691       0.206    71.7   273.4    1997.8271   72.4 0.078  HARTKOPF

 --           COU 1241     26.30   1993.10    0.563    89.7      63.9 0.174  MANTE 
06598+3141    13.6867       0.181   120.2   263.9    1991.169    57.8 0.174

 --           FIN 326      18.29   1965.74    0.466   174.5     345.4 0.121  MASON &
09442-2746    19.6879       0.123   123.0   316.0    1996.1810  332.4 0.090  HARTKOPF

 7785         A 1993      142.61   2009.78    0.655   177.3     162.6 0.271  LING
10288+4558     2.5244       0.423    49.6    80.8    1997.31    165.7 0.260  

 9557         STF 3091 AB 148.00   2032.16    0.820   222.8     227.1 0.580  MASON &
15161-0454     2.4324       0.708    93.1   104.9    1997.537   227.0 0.581  HARTKOPF

 9918         FIN 384 Aa    9.91   1990.13    0.025   119.9     153.9 0.055  MASON &
16057-0617    36.346        0.065   132.5   354.6    1996.1842  124.5 0.064  HARTKOPF

10385         HU 169       98.80   1891.82    0.464   209.4     242.3 0.130  MASON &
17115-1629     3.6438       0.241   122.2   232.6    1996.5289  237.0 0.144  HARTKOPF

10561         A 2244       44.96   1925.68    0.621   184.4     123.0 0.254  MASON &
17283-2058     8.0071       0.172    17.8   102.9    1990.3414  125.7 0.250  HARTKOPF

11643         B 405        87.95   1967.62    0.559   336.5     159.6 0.501  MASON &
18463-2721     4.0933       0.343   135.3    14.0    1991.25    158.5 0.506  HARTKOPF

 --           KUI 89       85.52   1993.11    0.486    51.8      72.1 0.142  MASON &
18594-1250     4.2094       0.224    34.7   315.0    1996.7011   79.4 0.147  HARTKOPF

 --           COU 1462     22.81   1993.89    0.672    38.0      51.7 0.182  MANTE 
19089+3404    15.7798       0.314    83.2   275.3    1995.4397   56.4 0.156  

 --           FIN 327       5.72   1984.29    0.710   259.0      76.8 0.111  MASON &
19253-2431    62.9712       0.069    97.3    10.7    1992.4551   73.9 0.079  HARTKOPF

16672         MCA 74 Aa     6.29   1980.87    0.175   156.9     326.8 0.164  MASON &
23191-1327    57.2765       0.189    46.0   223.1    1995.7625   33.4 0.119  HARTKOPF

 --           COU 439      64.79   2021.76    0.312    12.0     259.4 0.150  DOCOBO 
23199+2844     5.5564       0.195    53.6    45.3    1995.7706  264.9 0.145  & LING

16700         HU 95       257.20   1943.31    0.560    65.9     303.4 0.506  MASON &
23218-1217     1.3997       0.500   144.8   339.4    1991.25    302.5 0.512  HARTKOPF

 --           RST 4136 AB  54.83   1955.05    0.066   194.9     355.4 0.126  MASON &
23586-1408     6.5662       0.191   106.9   309.3    1996.5405  350.4 0.110  HARTKOPF


=====================================================================================


                                  NEW DOUBLE STAR 

Discovered by: P. Couteau with 76 cm refractor at Nice Observatory
(This star was discovered observing COU 554) 


   STAR     Oxford        Mgn          Coord. 2000     1990+     theta     rho  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COU 2702   +29 6496   10.0 - 12.2    02 52.7 + 29 14    9.06      276.     0.65


=====================================================================================


                                   ANNOUNCEMENT 

A proposed Joint Discussion (JD) for the next IAU General Assembly is in the
planning stages. The goal of the JD is to develop a designation scheme for
stellar companions which addresses all techniques, and all stellar companions,
both stellar and sub-stellar. This could have implications for the designation
of binary stars. The home page for this proposed JD can be found at
http://aries.usno.navy.mil/wds/iaujd.html .

As the representative of Commission 26 on the SOC I am soliciting opinions of
all interested double star astronomers. Please send them via email or postal 
mail to the address below.

Brian D. Mason                         phone:  202-762-1412
Astrometry Department                  fax:    202-762-1516
U. S. Naval Observatory                email:  bdm@draco.usno.navy.mil
3450 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington DC 20392-5420 
USA

New WDS web page: http://aries.usno.navy.mil/wds/wdsnew.html


===================================================================================


The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 139 is:
     
                            October 15th 1999                          


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 139  (OCTOBER 1999)                      


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      1999      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     2000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  281         BU 1015     125.41   1961.64    0.522   302.7      96.0 0.421  SEYMOUR &  
00206+1219     2.8707       0.325    29.5   359.2    1996.6510   97.2 0.426  HARTKOPF

  732         A 2307       57.67   1956.32    0.515   218.4      59.3 0.189  SEYMOUR &  
00533+0405     6.2429       0.228    72.5    15.1    1995.9316   61.8 0.171  HARTKOPF

 1077         A 313       131.16   2018.40    0.160   168.8     349.1 0.252  SEYMOUR 
01196-0520     2.7448       0.273   130.1   249.2    1997.0300  347.1 0.250  & MASON

 3465         A 2621      310.47   1699.04    0.372    90.0     101.4 0.134  SEYMOUR &  
04496+0212     1.1595       0.212    45.8    44.2    1993.0924  103.3 0.133  HARTKOPF

 3596         STT 93     1467.52   1914.22    0.649   241.3     245.1 1.348  SEYMOUR 
05005+0506     0.2453       2.530    99.7   249.3    1997.1541  245.0 1.362  & MASON

 4115         STF 728     613.69   2297.03    0.221   217.1      46.1 1.161  SEYMOUR &  
05308+0557     0.5866       1.604    96.6   302.5    1998.0900   46.0 1.172  HARTKOPF

 5949         A 2855       65.68   1958.26    0.200    52.6     236.4 0.406  SEYMOUR   
07168+0059     5.4814       0.350   144.3   325.2    1991.8970  233.1 0.403  & MASON

 6347         HO 247      350.80   1892.44    0.291   117.2     246.3 0.454  SEYMOUR &  
07461+2107     1.0262       0.561    52.9   339.8    1995.9216  247.2 0.459  HARTKOPF

              COU 966      90.43   2036.13    0.304    63.6      42.5 0.161  MANTE 
12316+3201     3.9811       0.126   172.4   183.0    1997.268    40.2 0.160  

 9220         A 1102      393.07   1931.22    0.531   252.4      93.0 0.458  SEYMOUR   
14179+6914     0.9159       0.458   138.6    29.3    1994.4500   92.4 0.452  & MASON

              COU 1289     15.99   2001.05    0.832    58.2      57.9 0.080  DOCOBO
16584+3943    22.5141       0.076   116.4   149.1    1996.4320   50.2 0.050  & LING

              COU 1289     37.63   2024.43    0.183    74.2     240.0 0.088  DOCOBO
16584+3943     9.5668       0.137    99.9   102.3    1996.4320  235.3 0.073  & LING

              COU 1785     34.83   1997.67    0.413    51.7     240.7 0.052  DOCOBO
18035+4032    10.3359       0.130    82.4   195.0    1995.6115  254.5 0.029  & LING

12540         McA 55 Aa    96.84   2010.27    0.719    98.8     131.2 0.375  HARTKOPF
19307+2758     3.7174       0.586   118.0    77.2    1997.4603  128.2 0.369  

              CHR 87       69.04   1996.73    0.212   183.1      86.3 0.076  HARTKOPF
19336+3846     5.2144       0.157    52.4   247.4    1997.4602   99.3 0.077  

13961         SEE 512      88.39   1960.25    0.104   127.8     271.4 0.092  SEYMOUR 
20325-1637     4.0729       0.277   100.6    94.2    1996.5320  263.4 0.079  & MASON

              CHR 114      85.25   1991.31    0.252   255.5     223.1 0.123  HARTKOPF
22383+4511     4.2228       0.162    35.9   269.0    1996.5321  228.7 0.128  

16708         HU 295       64.62   1941.29    0.140   276.3     259.1 0.219  SEYMOUR &  
23227-1502     5.5709       0.408    77.6   354.6    1997.8292  262.7 0.248  HARTKOPF

=====================================================================================

      SPECKLE CAMERA FOR THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY ``RAMON MARIA ALLER" 

    A speckle camera for wide range of astronomical applications (binary star
measurements, in particular) was developed for the Astronomical Observatory ``R.  M.
Aller" of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and constructed in
cooperation with Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia).  It was successfully
tested in Cassegrain focus of the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional 1.52m telescope at
Calar Alto (Spain) during a recent observational run in September, 1999.

   With the microscope objective magnification 20x the scale at the detector plane was
0.013 arcsec per pixel.  A wheel of interference filters is used in the camera for
bandpass selection while a set of prisms compensates the atmospheric dispersion.

   The detector used is a 3-stage electrostatically focused image intensifier with a
20 mm multialcali photocathode.  It is optically coupled with SensiCam CCD camera
manufactured by PCO Computer Optics GmbH, Germany.

   Up to 5 frames per second (512x512 pix.  digitized at 12 bits) can be stored on the
hard disk(s) and copied later to an Exabyte Mammoth-LTVDe tape drive.

  The camera is completely remote controlled.

  The speckle masking image reconstruction procedure will be used to measure relative
position of the components in binary system as well as estimate their brightness
difference.

  First observations of about 100 binaries using the classical speckle technique were
performed, and the diffraction limited resolution of 0.08 arcsec at 600 nm was
achieved under moderate seeing conditions for all observed pairs.  Stars of 10th
magnitude were easily observed during the observing run and we expect those of 12th
magnitude can be measured at that telescope under better seeing conditions.

 
	J. A. Docobo, V.Tamazian, P.Abelleira, J.Blanco, V. Lanchares 
	Observatorio Astronomico ``R.M.Aller"
	P.O. Box 197, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, SPAIN
	(e-mail: oadoco@usc.es)
 
	Yu.Balega, A.Maximov, V.Vasyuk
 	Special Astrophysical Observatory
	Zelenchuk, 357147, RUSSIA
	(e-mail: balega@sao.ru)

=====================================================================================

             MICROMETER MEASUREMENTS OF VISUAL DOUBLE STARS 
 
    In the following Table, 46 measurements of 17 visual binary stars performed with
74 cm (N) and 50 cm (n) refractors at the Cote d'Azur Observatory (France) in June,
1991 are given.

   For each star the first measurement has been carried out by J.  A.  Docobo, the
second one by J.  F.  Ling and the third, if any, by V.  Lanchares.

	J. A. Docobo and J. F. Ling
	Observatorio Astronomico ``R. M. Aller"
	Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, SPAIN
 
	V. Lanchares
	Universidad de La Rioja. Logrono. Spain 


                                       Table


	    WDS      Name          ADS     1991.    theta    rho       No. 
                                     +      (deg)  (arcsec)  nights
	-------------------------------------------------------------------
	13346+1044   BU 612 AB     8987    .433     242.9    0.24     1N  
	                                            244.9    0.24     1N  
	                                            242.2    0.25     1N  
	13375+3617   STF 1768 AB   8974    .433     103.6    1.69     1n  
	                                            103.6    1.97     1n  
	                                            104.4    1.66     1n  
	14323+2641   A 570         9301    .436     213.4    0.22     1N  
	                                            213.1    0.24     1N  
	14455+4222   STT 285       9378    .433     121.5    0.37     1N  
	                                            121.8    0.41     1N  
	14489+0557   STF 1883      9392    .433     285.7    0.63     1N  
	                                            285.6    0.72     1N  
	                                            284.0    0.70     1N  
	14534+1543   STT 288       9425    .433     168.0    1.20     1n  
	                                            165.9    1.41     1n  
	                                            165.4    1.20     1n  
	15161-0454   STF 3091 AB   9557    .433     235.7    0.63     1n  
	                                            234.4    0.58     1n  
	                                            236.3    0.60     1n  
	15232+3018   STF 1937 AB   9617    .436      30.4    1.03     1N  
	                                             30.6    1.04     1N  
	                                             29.8    1.04     1N  
	15416+1941   HU 580 AB     9744    .436      69.6    0.24     1N  
	                                             69.5    0.27     1N  
	16515+0113   STT 315      10230    .436     326.6    0.39     1N  
	                                            326.2    0.35     1N  
	17121+4544   KUI 79 AB             .436     334.9    0.27     1N  
	                                            334.7    0.27     1N  
	                                            332.8    0.30     1N  
	18054+2332   STF 2272     11046    .436     206.7    1.61     1N  
	                                            207.5    1.67     1N  
	                                            205.7    1.56     1N  
	18433+1847   COU 816               .436     303.5    0.29     1N  
	                                            305.1    0.29     1N  
	                                            303.5    0.32     1N  
	18466+3821   HU 1191      11680    .436     288.8    0.28     1N  
	                                            290.1    0.25     1N  
	19394+2216   STF 2556     12752    .436      17.4    0.32     1N  
	                                             15.0    0.31     1N  
	                                             17.5    0.34     1N  
	20199+4522   STT 406      13723    .436     110.9    0.46     1n  
	                                            111.6    0.52     1n  
	                                            111.9    0.42     1n   
	21439+2751   HO 166       15267    .436      65.3    0.34     1N  
	                                             66.4    0.34     1N  
	                                             66.4    0.33     1N   

	===================================================================


The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 140 is:
     
                            February 15th 2000


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 140  (FEBRUARY 2000)                    


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)    T       e      W(2000)    2000      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)  a (") i (deg) w (deg) Last ob.     2001      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              COU 247     280.00   1990.21    0.426    21.3     307.6 0.300  BLANCO 
00094+1907     1.2857       0.846   124.9    47.1    1999.712   302.3 0.299  

 1522         STF 183 AB  332.79   1996.42    0.523   170.3     156.2 0.346  SEYMOUR
01551+2847     1.0818       0.489   121.3   290.5    1997.685   155.3 0.348  & MASON

 2612         STF 400 AB  244.52   1939.07    0.669    82.6     265.6 1.416  SEYMOUR
03350+6002     1.4723       1.052    67.1    35.1    1996.0601  265.8 1.425  & MASON

              COU 691      36.52   2003.74    0.600    52.7     221.4 0.108  DOCOBO
03423+3141     9.8576       0.167    73.9   252.0    1996.866   226.7 0.103  & LING

 4971         A 2667      102.34   1931.89    0.365   110.0     228.7 0.278  SEYMOUR
06214+0216     3.5177       0.400    59.8   253.9    1997.1171  232.0 0.282  & MASON

              COU 768      26.64   1982.71    0.502    60.1     160.8 0.135  DOCOBO
06503+2410    13.5135       0.118   144.2    59.8    1996.872   153.2 0.129  & LING

 5726         A 1959       32.11   1972.53    0.019   169.6      98.6 0.120  SEYMOUR
07036+3941    11.2115       0.247    61.9   333.0    1995.1462  118.4 0.138  & MASON

 7044         VDK 3       127.76   2009.58    0.891   176.8     150.9 1.603  SEYMOUR
08507+0752     2.8178       2.498    59.1   102.8    1997.275   152.6 1.523  & MASON

 7629         I 292       823.31   1971.04    0.832   124.6     316.8 0.638  SEYMOUR
10043-2823     0.4373       1.457   138.4    52.1    1997.1229  315.9 0.655  & MASON

 7915         HO 532 AB   160.67   1972.58    0.860   110.9      72.3 0.624  MANTE
10454+3831     2.2406       1.791   100.1   280.1    1995.1411   70.6 0.615   

              KUI 93       68.21   1962.76    0.976   151.9     313.2 0.193  DOCOBO
19411+1349     5.2778       0.099    22.3   339.0    1995.7703  313.5 0.192  & LING

=====================================================================================

                             PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1999

 1) ABT, H. A. & WILLMARTH D. W.: "Binaries in the Praesepe and Coma Star Clusters 
    and Their Implications for Binary Evolution". Astrophys. J. 521, 682 (1999).

 2) ARISTIDI, E. et al.: "Speckle observations of double and multiple stars at Pic du 
    Midi: Measurements during 1995 and 1997 and new orbits". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. 
    Ser. 134 (3), 545 (1999).

 3) BALEGA, I. I. et al.: "Binary star Speckle measurements during 1992-1997 from SAO 
    6-m and 1-m telescopes in Zelenchuk". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 140 (3), 287 
    (1999).

 4) BENDINELLI, O. et al.: "A method to analyze adaptive optics
    images of binary stars". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 135 (1), 187 (1999).

 5) BODEN, A. F. et al. : "The visual orbit of 64 Piscium". Astrophys. J. 527, 360 
    (1999).

 6) BODEN, A. F. et al. : "The visual orbit of iota Pegasi". Astrophys. J. 515, 356 
    (1999).

 7) CUYPERS, J. & SEGGWISS, W. : "CCD photometry and astrometry of visual double and 
    multiple stars of the HIPPARCOS catalogue. II. CCD photometry and differential 
    astrometry of 288 southern ``Intermediate" systems". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl.  
    Ser. 139 (3), 425 (1999).

 8) DELFOSSE, X. et al.: "Accurate masses of very low mass stars II. The very low  
    mass triple system GL 866". Astron. Astrophys. 350, L39 (1999).

 9) DOCOBO, J. A. & LING J. F.: "Orbits of five visual double stars". Astrophys. J. 
    Suppl. Ser. 120, 41 (1999).

10) DOCOBO, J. A., PRIETO, C. & LING J. F.: "The influence of mass loss on the 
    eccentricity of double star orbits". Astrophys. and Space Science 261, 205 (1999).

11) DOUGLASS, G. G. et al.: "Speckle interferometry at the US Naval Observatory. IV".
    Astron. J. 118 (3), 1395 (1999).

12) FALIN, J. L. & MIGNARD, F. : "Mining in the Hipparcos raw data". Astron. 
    Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 135 (2), 231 (1999).

13) FARAGGIANA, R. & BONIFACIO, P. C. : "How many lambda Bootis stars are binaries?".
    Astron. Astrophys. 349, 521 (1999).
  
14) FEKEL, F. C. et al.: "Orbital elements and physical parameters of ten 
    chromospherically active binary stars". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 137 (2),  
    369 (1999).

15) GEHRZ, R. D. et al. : "Thermal infrared images of the remarkable young nearby 
    multiple star HD 98800". Astrophys. J. 512, L55 (1999).

16) GERMAIN, M. E., DOUGLASS, G. G. & WORLEY, C. E.: "Speckle interferometry at the 
    US Naval Observatory. II". Astron. J. 117 (4), 1905 (1999).

17) GERMAIN, M. E., DOUGLASS, G. G. & WORLEY, C. E.: "Speckle interferometry at the 
    US Naval Observatory. III". Astron. J. 117 (5), 2511 (1999).

18) HARTKOPF, W. I. et al.: "ICCD Speckle observations of binary stars. XXII. A survey
    of Wolf-Rayet stars for close visual companions". Astron. J. 118 (1), 509 (1999). 

19) HAUSER, H.M. & MARCY, G. W.: "The orbit of 16 Cygni AB". Pub. Astron. Soc. of the 
    Pacific 111 (757), 321 (1999).

20) HOLMAN, M. J. & WIEGERT, P. A.: "Long-term stability of planets in binary 
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21) HORCH, E. et al.: "Speckle observations of binary stars with the wiyn telescope. 
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22) IWAMOTO, N. et al.: "A comparison of stellar evolution with binary systems". 
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23) JASINTA, D.M.D., RAHARTO, M. & SOEGIARTINI, E. : " Photographic observations of 
    visual double stars". Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 134 (1), 87 (1999).

24) JASINTA, D.M.D. & HIDAYAT, B. : " The photographic observations on the components
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25) KOPEIKIN, S. M., OZERNOY, L. M. : "Post-NewtonianTheory for Precision Doppler 
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26) KOVALEVA, D. A. & MALKOV, O. Y.: " On the possible multiplicity of the components
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27) KRYMOLOWSKI, Y. & MAZEH, T.: "Studies of multiple stellar systems - II. 
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28) LEONE, F. & CATANZARO, G.  : "Orbital elements of binary systems with a chemically
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29) LU, W. & RUCINSKI, S. M.: "Radial velocity studies of close binary stars. I". 
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30) MASON, B.D., DOUGLASS, G.G. & HARTKOPF, W. I.: "Binary star orbits from speckle 
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31) MASON, B.D. et al.: "Speckle interferometry of new and problem Hipparcos 
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33) MORAN, C. et al.: "The orbital parameters of three new subdwarf B binaries". 
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39) RICHICHI, A. et al.: "New binary stars discovered by Lunar occultations". Astron.
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40) ROBERTS, L. C.: "Three methods of determining magnitudes of individual stars in 
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42) SALAMAN, M., MORLET, G. & GILI, R.: "CCD measurements of visual double star made 
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43) SALIM, S. & GOULD, A. : "Saggitarius A ``visual binaries": A direct measurement 
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44) SCALLY, A., CLARKE, C. & MCCAUGHREAN, M. J.: "Wide binaries in the Orion nebula 
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45) SCHWEICKHARDT, J. et al.: "Revised mass determination of the super massive 
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46) SHATSKY, N. et al.: "UBV absolute CCD photometry and differential astrometry of 
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47) SINACHOPOULOS, D. et al.: "CCD astrometry and instrumental DeltaV photometry of 
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48) SMEKHOV, M. G.: "Spectroscopic Components in the Multiple Systems ADS 4200 and 
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49) SODERHJELM, S.: "Visual binary orbits and masses post Hipparcos". Astron. 
    Astrophys. 341, 121 (1999).

50) TAMAZIAN, V. S., DOCOBO, J. A. & MELIKIAN, N. : "Spectral, photometric and 
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51) TAMAZIAN, V. S. & DOCOBO, J. A.: "Flare activity of visual binary COU 14" 
    Astrophys. and Space Science 261, 95 (1999).

52) TOKOVININ, A. A.: "New spectroscopic components in 8 multiple systems". Astron.
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    Pacific 111 (756), 169 (1999).

56) TORRES, G. et al.: "The nearby low-mass visual binary Wolf 424" Astron. J. 117 
    (1), 562 (1999).

57) WEIGELT, G. et al.: "Bispectrum speckle interferometry of the Orion Trapezium 
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    Astrophys. 347, 15 (1999).

===================================================================================

                                        NOTE 


J. F. Courtot reports that the following wide "CTT" pairs, noticed and measured in 
Chaumont (France), in 1997, have been included in WDS Catalog.

===================================================================================
 Name          BD          RA, Dec         Theta    Rho         Mags      Spectral 
                            (2000)         (deg)    (")                     Type
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CTT 1      +56 3129    00 00.3 +56 51       92     46.5     8.5 -  9.5      A2
 CTT 2      +55  195    00 54.5 +56 19       42     62.0     7.2 -  9.8      A5+F5
 CTT 3      +62  423    02 35.9 +63 38       88     88.1     7.9 -  8.3      A5
 CTT 4 AB   +33  994    05 17.5 +33 12      104     98.3     7.7 -  9.5      A2
 CTT 4 AC      "               "            282    113.6     7.7 -  9.5      -
 CTT 4 AD      "               "            270    102.8     7.7 -  9.5      -
 CTT 4 AE      "               "            269    116.2     7.7 - 10.0      -
 CTT 5      +47 4334    23 57.5 +48 17      325     33.8     9.3 -  9.5      M0
===================================================================================



The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 141 is:
     
                            June 15th 2000


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 141  (JUNE 2000)                    


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      2000      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     2001      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  221         STT 4       108.90   1907.9     0.56     10.8     137.8 0.331  ALZNER 
00167+3629     3.3058       0.350   162.5   356.3    1999.33    134.8 0.319

  328         HU 506      144.50   1955.60    0.047    33.8      74.4 0.119  DOCOBO
00243+5201     2.4914       0.201    65.0   308.2    1995.77     77.5 0.115    

  328         HU 506      152.68   1953.43    0.099   211.9      74.3 0.120  HARTKOPF
00243+5201     2.3579       0.203    65.0   125.1    1996.8657   77.2 0.116    

 2200         BU 524 AB    31.53   1996.53    0.753    25.4       3.0 0.168  DOCOBO 
02537+3820    11.4184       0.221   121.0   265.0    1999.710   356.9 0.182  & VASYUK

              COU 1688      9.26   1986.12    0.139     9.0     110.8 0.112  DOCOBO 
03320+4341    38.8769       0.106    22.9   281.2    1996.049   142.3 0.113  & LING

              COU 1688      9.38   1995.28    0.143   166.5     104.3 0.111  MANTE
03320+4341    38.3795       0.108    29.6   113.8    1996.049   134.4 0.116    

 3182         HU 304       54.77   1937.24    0.720   239.8     354.2 0.167  HARTKOPF
04239+0928     6.5729       0.188    34.2   332.0    1997.8297  358.6 0.181    

 3317         CHARA 18 Aa  17.25   1993.10    0.041   146.2     169.2 0.165  OLEVIC &
04357+1010    20.8718       0.224    68.7   227.0    1995.77    189.2 0.123  JOVANOVIC

 3991         A 847        48.31   1960.86    0.224   141.9     142.6 0.315  HARTKOPF
05239-0052     7.4519       0.333    86.9   105.4    1993.0924  143.1 0.294    

 5586         STT 159 AB  262.0    1992.68    0.74     43.4     222.1 0.452  ALZNER
06573+5825     1.3740       1.19     78.0    98.0    2000.05    223.3 0.486   

 5958         STT 170     379.67   1632.21    0.433   274.1      61.0 0.454  HARTKOPF
07176+0918     0.9482       1.688   105.6   278.3    1998.203    57.5 0.420    

 6554         BU 581       44.69   1999.51    0.429   113.8      76.1 0.206  HARTKOPF
08044+1217     8.0555       0.475    54.9   295.7    1997.8274   94.0 0.256    

 7082         A 2131       45.02   1973.16    0.475   162.1     254.5 0.361  MASON
08549+2612     7.9966       0.347    43.5   257.5    1997.28    259.3 0.357    

              FIN 349      42.38   1972.12    0.384   141.3      74.9 0.122  HARTKOPF
09327+0152     8.4946       0.159    55.8    75.1    1997.1260   82.3 0.124    

 7541         HO 369      144.34   1924.48    0.931   301.2     103.4 0.413  SEYMOUR
09512+3629     2.4941       0.254    64.4   322.6    1996.29    103.5 0.414  & MASON

 8198         HU 1134      81.47   1927.37    0.468   120.1     120.5 0.163  HARTKOPF
11322+3615     4.4188       0.216    91.4    74.7    1997.4025  120.3 0.159    

 8239         BU 456      390.59   1912.50    0.627    45.3     155.6 0.911  OLEVIC & 
11369-1221     0.9217       1.029    47.4   317.3    1996.37    156.3 0.919  POPOVIC

 8539         STF 1639 AB 575.44   1891.75    0.926   140.8     324.6 1.712  OLEVIC & 
12244+2535     0.6256       1.224   150.4     9.7    2000.342   324.5 1.720  POPOVIC

 9229         STF 1834    375.97   1902.78    0.886   287.3     103.1 1.474  SEYMOUR
14203+4830     0.9575       0.972    76.4   355.5    1999.2806  103.1 1.482  & MASON

 9392         STF 1883    216.17   1965.37    0.610    99.4     281.7 0.812  SEYMOUR
14489+0557     1.6654       0.797   107.4    43.0    1999.4285  281.3 0.828  & MASON

10531         HU 1179      91.70   1980.41    0.692    96.9     275.3 0.229  HARTKOPF
17240+3835     3.9258       0.181   104.4    37.9    1997.2689  274.9 0.234    

              COU 1786     46.95   1991.39    0.190    36.0     283.2 0.091  DOCOBO 
18043+4206     7.6677       0.133    46.9   166.5    1995.3112  294.4 0.090  & LING

              OL 22       135.10   1971.38    0.552   221.6      36.5 0.491  SEYMOUR
19124-3304     2.6647       0.426    41.9    36.8    1992.4576   37.7 0.501  & MASON

              McA 61       22.15   1998.49    0.815    41.4      50.9 0.054  OLEVIC & 
20331+4950    16.2538       0.104    79.4   273.2    1995.7621   56.8 0.058  JOVANOVIC

16873         FOX 102     221.06   1987.71    0.354   282.0       2.3 0.199  SEYMOUR
23374+0737     1.6285       0.413    46.4    40.6    1996.97      6.8 0.200  & MASON



J.C. Thorel reports the position of the double star DOO 35, and one JCT's new
double star using 50 cm refractor at Nice Observatory.


  STAR      BD number        Mags      Coord. 2000     1990+  theta    rho 
                                                              (deg)  (arcsec) 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOO 35    +52 1012          9.0-9.0   05 56.1 +52 50   9.060  356.3    6.25
JCT 4 AB  +10 4428p/4428s   9.2-9.5   20 59.2 +11 32   9.772   10.7   10.59




     
                             PAUL MULLER (1910-2000)
   
Paul MULLER est ne  le 17 novembre 1910 a LORQUIN en Moselle (France).

Il commence sa carriere professionnelle en 1931 a l'Observatoire de Strasbourg.
Apres y avoir effectue divers travaux allant des observations meridiennes a la
mesure de l'acceleration de la pesanteur en passant par la photometrie d'etoiles
variables et de novae, il observe les etoiles doubles avec le petit refracteur
equatorial de 16 cm de diametre, puis en 1947 il accedera au grand refracteur de 49
cm.  Sur le conseil d'Andre DANJON, il s'interesse a la birefringence et realise en
1937 le micrometre a double image auquel son nom est attache et qui fit progresser
considerablement la precision des mesures des etoiles doubles.  Ce micrometre sera
le theme da la these qu'il passera en 1948.

Les progres realise est tel, et son habilite d'observateur si remarquable, qu'il
mesure a la lunette equatoriale de 91 cm de diametre de l'Observatoire Lick des
couples non resolus, separes seulement de 0.1.  En 1953 il decouvre quatre couples
dont MUL 4 qui s'averera etre une orbitale avec une periode d'environ 20 ans.

Les autres applications de son micrometre son nombreuses et variees:  diametres de
Mercure, de Venus, de Mars, des satellites de Jupiter, de Titan, de Vesta,
aplatissement de Mars.

Apres addition des filtres colores, il mesure les differences de magnitudes de
couples stellaires en plusieurs couleurs et determine les indices de composantes
dont souvent les spectres etaient inconnus.  La serie de determination ainsi
realisee est l'une des meilleures obtenues dans le monde.

En 1956, il arrive a l'Observatoire de Meudon.  Il renove la grande lunette de 83
cm de diametre qui etait en hors service depuis 25 ans et il fait installer un
plancher mobile qui permet a l'observateur d'etre toujours bien installe face a
l'oculaire.  Il effectue a partir de 1966 plus de 1500 mesures d'etoiles doubles.
Il participe egalement a la maitrise d'oeuvre de la Tour Solaire.

Le lancement du premier satellite artificiel en octobre 1957 marque pour MULLER le
debut d'une autre activite importante ou il fit oeuvre de pionnier.  Elle va de
l'observation des satellites artificiels a l'exercice de responsabilites dans
l'organisation de la recherche spatiale francaise et a son integration dans les
organismes nationaux lors de leur creation.  Il est membre delegue de la France au
COSPAR.

En 1931, il est membre fondateur du groupe Alsace et en 1947 du groupe Lorraine de
la Societe Astronomique de France.  Conseiller scientifique en 1983 il devient en
1966, President d'Honneur de la Commission des Etoiles Doubles de cette Societe qui
l'a honore des prix Henry Rey en 1936, Prix des Dames en 1947, de la Medaille
commemorative en 1954 et de sa plus haute distinction:  le Prix Janssen en 1985.
Il a egalement ete promu au grade de Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur de la
Republique Francaise.

En 1954, MULLER cree les circulaires de la Commission 26 - Etoiles Doubles - de
l'Union Astronomique Internationale a la suite du projet du Professeur Wilhelm RABE
dont le texte original etait:  "Plan fur ein Nachrictenblatt der
Doppelsternastronomie".

Il assure la realisation et la publication de ces circulaires jusqu'en 1983 et il
ecrit dans la circulaire no.  90:  "Foundateur de cette circulaire qui vient
d'entrer dans sa 30e anee, le moment est venu d'en transmettre la responsabilite a
plus jeune, je tiens a remercier tous ceux qui en ont assure le succes.  Je sais
que notre ami Paul COUTEAU trouvera les memes concours et je souhaite longue vie
encore a ce lien precieux qui reste ainsi entre les meilleures mains".

Il a ete President de cette Commission de 1952 a 1958 (deux mandats successifs) et
de 1976 a 1979, et Secretaire General du Comite National Francais d'Astronomie de
1959 a1968.

L'ampleur de son travail se traduit par la realisation seul ou en collaboration, de
quatre catalogues d'ephemerides de couples stellaires orbitaux, par plus de 330
publications et par la participation a plusieurs ouvrages collectifs.

Il part en retraite en 1979 apres avoir consacre aux etoiles doubles la part la
plus importante de son activite.  Jusqu'en 1992 il continue a venir regulierement a
Nice pour poursuivre son programme de recherche de couples nouveaux dans la bande
celeste allant de +57deg de declinaison au Pole Nord.  Il aura decouvert plus de
700 etoiles doubles qui sont en 1992 publiees dans un catalogue et depuis 1999
enregistrees dans SINODIE, systeme informatique des etoiles doubles de Nice:
http://sinodie.obs-nice.fr/.  Toutes ses mesures sont egalement
accessibles sur les sites electroniques du Centre de donnees stellaires de
Strasbourg (CDS) et du Washington Naval Observatory (WDS).

Paul MULLER s'eteint a Nice le 9 juillet 2000, dans sa 89e annee.  De la maison de
retraite de Cimiez, ou il s'etait retire avec son epouse, il avait toujours garde
un regard sur les couples de l'Observatoire de Nice.


Jean-Claude THOREL
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur



                         IN MEMORIAM OF DR.PAUL MULLER


As a tribute of the Information Circular current Editors to its first
Editor, we include hereby a copy of the Circular No.1.
     
Rest in Peace, Dr. Muller.



                                      NOTES 

1.  Dr.  Mason noted in previous Circular No. 140 the following typo in T for the
orbit of Seymour & Mason for ADS 1522 = STF 183, it should be 1966.42 instead of
1996.42

2.  Paper by ODENKIRCHEN, M.  and BROSCHE, P.:  "The proper-motion signal of
unresolved binaries in the Hipparcos catalogue".  Astron.  Nach.  320, 6, 397-412
(1999) was missed in PAPERS PUBLISHED IN 1999 (Information Cicular No.  140).

   ===================================================================


The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 142 is:
     
                            October 15th 2000


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Tel. (81) 59 27 47
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769




INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION COMMISSION 26 (DOUBLE STARS)
                  INFORMATION CIRCULAR No. 142  (OCTOBER 2000)                    


                                    NEW ORBITS                               

  ADS            Name      P (yr)      T       e      W(2000)      2000      Author
 RA 2000 DEC    n (deg)    a (")   i (deg)   w (deg)  Last ob.     2001      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              HDO 181     221.00   1978.71    0.406   161.6      59.7 0.29   ALZNER
00090-5400     1.6290       0.420   154.1    25.3    1999.77     56.9 0.29   & ARGYLE

  819         A 1902       92.67   1964.91    0.842   121.1     198.5 0.340  DOCOBO 
00593-0040     3.8848       0.346    56.9   270.2    1996.696   199.7 0.341  & LING

 1105         STF 115 AB  216.82   1984.60    0.931   138.7     172.7 0.175  DOCOBO 
01233+5808     1.6604       0.863   98.3    128.5    1999.729   170.7 0.191  & LING
 
 1630         STT 38 BC    63.67   2015.50    0.927   109.6     104.8 0.465  DOCOBO 
02039+4220     5.6542       0.302   109.8   183.4    1999.726   104.4 0.450  & LING

 3174         STF 535    1128.00   2046.00    0.495   114.0     279.7 1.132  HARTKOPF
04233+1123     0.3191       2.040   145.5   243.6    1999.8315  279.0 1.126  & MASON 

 3614         HU 445      303.69   1956.51    0.376    73.2     121.1 0.420  SCARDIA
05017+2050     1.1854       0.592    45.0   323.0    2000.017   122.6 0.421    

 4929         BU 895      103.69   2009.30    0.050   140.6     148.6 0.252  HARTKOPF
06200+2826     3.4719       0.282    70.1    58.0    1999.8319  150.2 0.245  & MASON

              MCA 27       38.90   1976.73    0.557   113.5     295.7 0.240  HARTKOPF
06384+2859     9.2545       0.159   119.5   343.3    1999.8319  294.0 0.236  & MASON

 5956         A 2123       77.31   1981.46    0.944   137.9     345.1 0.402  HARTKOPF
07171-1202     4.6566       0.684    79.7    80.2    1999.1603  345.9 0.402  & MASON

 6825         A 550        42.00   1952.70    0.026   170.4     127.6 0.072  HARTKOPF
08277-0425     8.5714       0.170   108.0    24.0    1999.8666  109.0 0.058  & MASON

              I 10        142.00   2000.80    0.470   163.6     343.2 1.06   ALZNER
08447-5443     2.5352       1.990   105.2   188.0    1999.782   341.1 1.04   & ARGYLE

 7012         A 2552       82.38   1968.93    0.232    34.7      64.8 0.240  HARTKOPF
08487+0057     4.3700       0.239   128.4   166.0    1996.8665   62.3 0.247  & MASON

 7039         A 2473      116.70   2015.30    0.890   108.5      66.9 0.277  HARTKOPF
08507+1800     3.0848       0.476    68.0    89.1    1999.1578   68.5 0.273  & MASON

 9089         A 1097 AB   224.70   1920.69    0.105    60.1     241.1 0.437  SCARDIA
14020+5713     1.6021       0.409    49.7    45.7    1997.330   242.0 0.438    

              COU 490      50.79   2013.10    0.672   104.1     339.8 0.183  MANTE
16450+2928     7.0876       0.169   136.1   269.9    1995.442   336.5 0.179    

10276         A 1143       88.20   1949.80    0.632   101.7     244.3 0.404  HARTKOPF
16566+5711     4.0816       0.290   136.4    39.2    1997.4004  243.2 0.399  & MASON
 
10341         BU 823      532.00   1954.70    0.417    66.2     152.2 0.919  HARTKOPF
17066+0039     0.6767       1.600    37.6    16.5    1998.5940  153.6 0.925  & MASON

11080         STT 524     686.00   1946.30    0.672    24.2     213.7 0.393  HARTKOPF
18075+1940     0.5247       0.584   129.7    57.8    1997.65    213.2 0.399  & MASON

11530         HO 87       118.57   1972.73    0.620    21.8      71.2 0.348  HARTKOPF
18386+1632     3.0362       0.310    34.2   269.0    1997.682    72.8 0.352  & MASON

              KUI 103      29.50   2007.66    0.742   132.1     104.2 0.854  MANTE
21000+4004    12.2034       0.589     0.1   130.5    1995.850   108.4 0.798    

              KUI 108      26.49   1974.72    0.333    12.3     223.8 0.099  HARTKOPF
21424+4105    13.5900       0.153   142.4   176.1    1997.5232  200.2 0.102  & MASON

16819         HU 298       30.73   1987.47    0.263   126.8     339.3 0.203  HARTKOPF
23322+0705    11.7149       0.173    31.0    57.0    1997.8293  346.3 0.202  & MASON




                        Report of IAU Commission 26 
                    Business Meeting Manchester, England,
                               2000 August 14 


President:               C. Scarfe (Canada)   
Vice-President:          W. Hartkopf (U.S.A.)   
Organizing Committee:    T. Armstrong (U.S.A.) - continuing   
                         F. Fekel (U.S.A.) - new   
                         P. Lampens (Belgium) - new   
                         J. Ling (Spain) - new    
                         R. Mathieu (U.S.A.) - continuing   
                         M. Valtonen (Finland) - continuing   
Past-president:          H. Zinnecker (Germany)   



Despite the fact that more than half the commission's members voted in the recent
election of vice-president Hartkopf and the new OC members listed above, and
despite the significance of several agenda items, the meeting was poorly
attended, with only nine members present, the same as at the previous meeting, in
Kyoto.  This report is based on notes taken by W.  Hartkopf and the author, the
latter of whom takes full responsibility for any inaccuracy.

The deaths of three members, C. Worley, P. Muller and C. Jaschek were
acknowledged with a moment of silence.  L. Loden's retirement and resignation
from the commission was noted.

The commission has added twelve new members, as follows.


             W. Chen (Taiwan)          B. Reipurth (U.S.A.)
             C. Clarke (U.K.)          R. Sagar (India)
             A. Ghez (U.S.A.)          M. Simon (U.S.A.
             P. Kroupa (Germany)       C. Terquem (France)
             O. Malkov (Russia)        A. Tarasov (Ukraine)
             B. Mason (U.S.A.)         L. Vaz (Brazil)
 
  

(Mason has been a consultant for the past three years, but has now joined the
I.A.U.  and becomes a full member of the commission.)  Some discussion followed
about how one might connect amateur double-star experts with the commission - the
names of A.  Alzner (Germany) and R.  Tanguay (U.S.A.)  were mentioned
specifically - but no conclusion was reached.  (It appears that I.A.U.  rules
prohibit their appointment as consultants.)

Zinnecker presented and briefly discussed the triennial report for the
Transactions.  He also reported on Symposium 200, the highly successful meeting
in Potsdam on Young Binary Stars, for which our commission was the primary
sponsor.  We also supported Colloquium 170, on Precise Stellar Radial Velocities,
held in Victoria in 1998, and a Symposium on Extragalactic Star Clusters, to be
held next year in Chile.  Finally, we were among the supporting commissions for
two Joint Discussions at this year's General Assembly, JD 5 on Mixing and
Diffusion in Stars and JD 13 on Hipparcos and the Luminosity Calibration of the
Nearer Stars, as well as a multi-commission meeting on the nomenclature of
companions to stars.

Hartkopf reported briefly on the commission's website, which has been moved from
Atlanta to Washington.  He encouraged members to visit it and welcomed
suggestions for matters to be included on the site.

Zinnecker presented a report from J.  Docobo on the Information Circulars.  It
was felt that they should be linked to ADS or Simbad, and that future
distribution should be done electronically as much as possible to reduce costs.
The possibility of including spectroscopic orbits was also raised.

Scarfe reported on the multi-commission meeting on nomenclature.  With the advent
of planet discoveries, a further level of complexity has been added to that
already engendered by the discoveries of binaries by observations at wavelengths
other than optical.  The potential discovery of many more from space missions
lends urgency to the task of finding a nomenclature scheme that encompasses those
new dicoveries and techniques.  In the end it was resolved to let the WDS group
tackle the problem over the next three years, with the support of our commission
and others with a stake in the outcome.

Mason reported on the current status of the WDS, including new data sources to be
included, and Hartkopf discussed the new orbit catalog, which is now nearly
complete.  It was suggested that a list of calibration objects be posted on the
web, and Hartkopf agreed to post a list of "Grade 1" objects with expanded
ephemerides.  An email message from Docobo stated that his group is also
preparing an orbit catalog.

Possible future meetings were discussed.  Topics included a Herschel bicentenary,
multiple stars, complememtary techniques (a sequel to the Atlanta Colloquium),
interaction of binaries with their environments, binaries as distance indicators,
and mass determination at the bottom of the main sequence.  Possible sites
included Mexico, Russia, the United States and the next General Assembly in
Australia.  Members wishing to comment on these ideas, or add their own, are
invited to contact Scarfe at scarfe@uvic.ca or by mail.

A very brief discussion of new instrument developments ensued.  We really needed
more time to discuss the variety of new instruments, both ground-based and in
space, which should lead to rapid growth of double star astronomy in the next few
years.  An extra session for such a discussion is being considered for the next
General Assembly, since several new instruments will be in operation by then.

Group photos were then taken of all business meeting participants, and the
meeting adjourned.

Colin Scarfe
President Commission 26



     
                            KAJ A. STRAND (1907-2000)


It is with great regret that I have to inform you of the death, in Washington, at
the age of 93, of Kaj Aa.  Strand, who served as president of our commission from
1964 to 1967.  He was born in Denmark in 1907, and emigrated to the United States
in 1938.  After serving in World War II, he spent several years at Yerkes
Observatory and Nothwestern University, before joining the U.S.  Naval
Observatory in 1958.  His tenure as Scientific Director there from 1963 until his
retirement in 1977 saw the observatory flourish in all areas of astrometry,
thanks to the superb astrometric telescope in Flagstaff for whose design and
construction he was primarily responsible, and which now justly bears his name.

I have written to his widow to express sympathy on behalf of the commission.  A
full obituary has been submitted by his colleague Steven Dick to the Washington
Post.

Colin Scarfe
President Commission 26
  


                                  ANNOUNCEMENT 

The database SIDONIe (Site Informatique des etoiles Doubles de Nice) is now
available on the Web at the adress http://sidonie.obs-nice.fr SIDONIe recovers
all the measurements of doubles stars discovered by Paul Couteau and Paul Muller
as well as measurements made on visual couples north of -10° declination with
separations less than 1 arcsecond or which exibit obvious orbital motion.  The
data base was conceived to allows research on a specific objet (measurements,
orbits, references) or statical research to help the preparation of an observing
program.  This data base will be updated by contribution of new data coming from
published observations and orbits.

D. Bonneau
Scientific manager of Centre des Etoiles Doubles.
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur.   



                       ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE IC EDITORS

Following the suggestion of the current IAU Commission 26 President, Dr.  Colin
Scarfe, beginning with No.143 (February, 2001) the Information Circular will
normally be delivered only by e-mail.

To those institutions and people who would like to receive a hard copy, it will
be sent only upon their request to the Editors.


   ===================================================================


The deadline for contributions to Information Circular No. 143 is:
     
                            February 15th 2001


         J. A. Docobo (oadoco@usc.es)
         J. F. Ling (oafana@usc.es)
         Tel. (81) 59 27 47
         Fax: (81) 59 70 54

         Observatorio Astronomico "R. M. Aller"
         P. O. Box 197
         Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
         SPAIN


ISSN: 1024-7769