PREFACE

The Handbook for 1954 is the 46th issue and its circulation is 5000. The Officers of the Society appreciate the increase in advertisements which will help to meet our mounting expense.

In this issue the distances of the extra-galactic nebulae have been increased in accordance with Dr. Walter Baade’s recent investigation of the Andromeda Nebula. Four circular star maps 9 inches in diameter at a price of two cents each and a set of four maps plotted on equatorial co-ordinates at a price of twenty cents are obtainable from the Director of University Extension, University of Toronto, Toronto 5.

Celestial distances given herein are based on the standard value of 8".80 for the sun’s parallax, not on the more recent value 8".790 determined by Sir Harold Jones; and the calculations for Algol are based on Olin J. Eggen’s epoch 2432520.6303 and period 2.86731525 d., as published in the Astrophysical Journal, 1948.

Cordial thanks are tendered to those who assisted in preparing this volume, especially to the staff of the David Dunlap Observatory, and also Miss Carol Henderson, Malcolm Lennox and Donald Morton. Our deep indebtedness to the British Nautical Almanac and the American Ephemeris is thankfully acknowledged.

C.A. Chant
David Dunlap Observatory,
Richmond Hill, Ont., October 1953.