Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams: Difference between revisions
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The CBAT collects and distributes information on [[comet]]s, [[natural satellites]], [[nova]]e, [[supernova]]e and other transient astronomical events. CBAT also establishes priority of discovery (who gets credit for it) and assigns initial designations and names to new objects. |
The CBAT collects and distributes information on [[comet]]s, [[natural satellites]], [[nova]]e, [[supernova]]e and other transient astronomical events. CBAT also establishes priority of discovery (who gets credit for it) and assigns initial designations and names to new objects. |
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On behalf of the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU), the CBAT distributes IAU Circulars (IAUCs). From the 1920s to the 1990s, the CBAT sent telegrams in urgent cases although most circulars were sent via regular [[mail]]; these telegrams continued as the |
On behalf of the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU), the CBAT distributes IAU Circulars (IAUCs). From the 1920s to the 1990s, the CBAT sent telegrams in urgent cases although most circulars were sent via regular [[mail]]; these telegrams continued as the Electronic Telegram of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBETs). Since the mid 1980s the IAUCs and the related [[Minor Planet Circular]] (MPC) have been available electronically. |
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The CBAT is a [[non-profit organization]] but charges for its services to finance its continued operation. |
The CBAT is a [[non-profit organization]] but charges for its services to finance its continued operation. |
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Revision as of 15:49, 19 January 2010
The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) is the official international clearing house for information relating to transient astronomical events.
The CBAT collects and distributes information on comets, natural satellites, novae, supernovae and other transient astronomical events. CBAT also establishes priority of discovery (who gets credit for it) and assigns initial designations and names to new objects.
On behalf of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the CBAT distributes IAU Circulars (IAUCs). From the 1920s to the 1990s, the CBAT sent telegrams in urgent cases although most circulars were sent via regular mail; these telegrams continued as the Electronic Telegram of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBETs). Since the mid 1980s the IAUCs and the related Minor Planet Circular (MPC) have been available electronically.
The CBAT is a non-profit organization but charges for its services to finance its continued operation.
History
The Central Bureau was founded by Astronomische Gesellschaft in 1882 at Kiel, Germany. During World War I it was moved to the Østervold Observatory at Copenhagen, Denmark, to be operated there by the Copenhagen University Observatory. In 1922, the IAU made the Central Bureau its official Bureau Central des Télégrammes Astronomiques (Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams), and it remained in Copenhagen until 1965, when it moved to the Harvard College Observatory, to be operated there by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. It has remained in Cambridge, Massachusetts to this day. The HCO had maintained a western-hemisphere Central Bureau from 1883 until the IAU's CBAT moved there at the end of 1964, so logically the HCO staff took over the IAU's Bureau.[1]
External links
References
- ^ "Science is not national, but scientists are: International 20th century and Danish astronomers" (PDF). ICESHS. Retrieved 2009-08-09.