20. Commission Pour l’Observation des Positions et le Calcul des éphémérides des Petites Planètes, des Comètes, et des Satellites

Extract

In accordance with action taken by the Commission at the 1932 meeting of the Union, the President has taken steps to ascertain the general opinion of computers and observers in regard to the co-operation of the Nautical Almanac offices in furnishing data for the equinox of 1900. The question under discussion is that of the adoption of the standard equinox to which observations and elements should be referred, e.g. 1900, 1950, etc. The opinion is being ascertained through a questionnaire, the results of which will be reported at the meeting. In this connection Commission 4 proposes discussion of the following resolution in co-operation with Commission 20:

“That, as from 1938 January 1, the equinox used for expressing the elements of cometary orbits and for cometary ephemerides shall be that of 1950.0. Further that, as from the same date, the equinox used in giving observed positions of comets shall be that of 1950.0, unless the observer, for good reasons, used some other equinox and expressly draws attention to the equinox used.”