Summary

Extract

I have been assigned the task of presenting a summary of the Conference that has just finished. Actually during the Symposium the review papers have touched upon many items, some of them apparently not strictly connected with the subject of the meeting but helpful to clarify the picture related to close binaries and aimed at establishing differences with single stars, whenever possible. Therefore, my task would be somewhat difficult it if were not that all the review papers were extremely clear, very well given and fully discussed and that there were so many contributions from the floor presented without any pressure from time or otherwise. Furthermore most of what I would say has been already said. All this makes my task a lot easier as it appears clear that I should confine myself to offer only a few comments. Let me start by saying that Dr. Struve would have felt most pleased to have been present at this meeting and realize how many astronomers are now interested, strongly interested, in the field of close binaries and how much the field has and is expanding taking also up the efforts of researchers that work in the radio and X-ray regions and attracting the attention of those who are interested in problems of general relativity.