Minor Planet Center

The funding situation of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) was discussed briefly, noting the cessation of IAU support, the increasing workload at the MPC, the declining subscription revenues, and the temporary support provided by NASA. Although the MPC reports to Commission 20, its work is crucial in enabling the members of Commission 15 to carry out their work and Commission 15 therefore passed a resolution requesting that the IAU provide financial support to the MPC and authorizing the officers of Division III to provide a final wording that would make the actions of commissions 15 and 20 self-consistent. It was noted that a formal financial proposal would be necessary before any action was taken by the IAU and that this would be done through Commission 20 and Division III.