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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
The greatest activity in the area of evolution of the central stars of the planetary nebulae has occurred in the last two decades, although there have been significant contributions by many workers of considerable insight ever since the early studies at the Lick Observatory demonstrated the physical nature of this class of nebula. We shall try to draw together here the many facets of the present picture of this rapidly developing and highly significant phase of stellar evolution. Unfortunately, the picture is not at all as complete as one would like, and there remain several points of scientific contention; however, we should like to present the results of several investigators. A certain amount of redundancy with previous papers given prior will be necessary, but we shall endeavor to treat these topics briefly and in the context of the evolution of the nebulae and their stars.