International Astronomical Union

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About the International Astronomical Union

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. Its individual members - structured in Divisions, Commissions, Working groups and Program Groups - are professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, and active in professional research and education in astronomy. Besides, the IAU collaborates with various organizations all over the world. The IAU has 9662 Individual Members in 86 countries worldwide. Of those 65 are National Members.

The scientific and educational activities of the IAU are organized by its 12 Scientific Divisions and, through them, its 40 specialized Commissions covering the full spectrum of astronomy, along with its 75 Working and Program Groups. The long-term policy of the IAU is defined by the General Assembly and implemented by the Executive Committee, while day-to-day operations are directed by the IAU Officers. The focal point of its activities is the IAU Secretariat , hosted by the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France.

The key activity of the IAU is the organization of scientific meetings. Every year the IAU sponsors nine international IAU Symposia. The IAU Symposium Proceedings series is the flagship of the IAU publications. Every three years the IAU has its General Assembly, which offers six IAU Symposia and some 25 Joint Discussions and Special Sessions. The proceedings of the last two are published in the Highlights of Astronomy series. The reports of the GA business meetings are published in the Transactions of the IAU - B series.

Among the other tasks of the IAU are the definition of fundamental astronomical and physical constants; unambiguous astronomical nomenclature; promotion of educational activities in astronomy; and early informal discussions on the possibilities for future international large-scale facilities. Furthermore, the IAU serves as the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and surface features on them.