THE OBSERVER’S HANDBOOK for 1963 is the 55th issue. The tables of the principal elements of the solar system and of the satellites have been revised to give the accepted values used in the national ephemerides; the inclination of the equator of each planet to its orbital plane has been added. Dimensions of Saturn’s rings are included. The predictions for the minima of Algol are based on the period and epoch used previously; from recent observations, these may be of the order of three quarters of an hour late.

Cordial thanks are offered to those who assisted in the preparation of this volume, to those who are named and to David Crampton, Harlan Creighton, Barbara Gaizauskas, Isabel Williamson, and Dorothy Yane. Special thanks are due to Gordon E. Taylor and the British Astronomical Association, concerning the prediction of planetary appulses and occultations and to Margaret W. Mayall, Director of the A.A.V.S.O., for the predictions of the times of maxima of the long-period variables.

Our deep indebtedness to the British Nautical Almanac Office and to the American Ephemeris is thankfully acknowledged.

Ruth J. Northcott