continues to be extremely rewarding. Experiments on future missions, such as the two 1981 Veneras, Gamma Ray Observatory, and the International Solar Polar Mission, will undoubtedly provide new and unexpected discoveries, but the work of the Leningrad group is likely to remain an important contribution to the field for some time to come. c.E.S.R. KEVIN HURLEY Toulouse, France June 9, 1981 CATALOG OF COSMIC GAMMA-RAY BURSTS FROM THE KONUS EXPERIMENT DATA Parts I and II E. P. MAZETS, S. V. GOLENETSKII, V. N. IL'INSKII, V. N. PANOV, R. L. APTEKAR, YU. A. GUR'YAN, M. P. PROSKURA, 1. A. SOKOLOV, Z. Y A. SOKOLOV A, and T. V. KHARITONOV A A. F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, Leningrad, U.S.S.R. and A. V. DYATCHKOV and N. G. KHAVENSON Institute of Cosmic Research, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R. (Received 2 July, 1980) Abstract. Data are presented on the temporal structure, fluxes, energy spectra and coordinates of the sources of gamma-ray bursts detected in the KONUS experiment on Venera 1 I and Venera 12 space probes in the period September 1978 to May 1979. The statistical distributions of gamma bursts in duration, intensity, and peak power, as well as the distribution of the burst sources over the celestial sphere presented are based on the updated KONUS information obtained until February 1980.

Since their discovery was first announced in 1973, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been among the most fascination objects in the universe. While the initial mystery has gone, the fascination continues, sustained by the close connection linking GRBs with some of the most fundamental topics in modern astrophysics and cosmology. Both authors have been active in GRB observations for over two decades and have produced an outstanding account on both the history and the perspectives of GRB research.

A complete text on the physics of gamma-ray bursts, the most brilliant explosions since the Big Bang.

Summarizes the current understanding of Astronomical gamma-ray bursts, short-lived flashes of high-energy radiation, which have eluded even a basic explanation for over twenty years, and describes directions for future research.