These papers span the entire range of multi-disciplinary studies of transients propagating from the sun through the interplanetary medium and represent a current assessment of theoretical studies and analyses, computer simulation, and in situ measurements of these phenomena. This includes solar phenomena as the source of transient events propagating through the solar system, and theoretical and observational assessments of the dynamic processes involved as these transients propagate through the interplanetary medium. The subjects covered are solar physics, solar radio astronomy, interplanetary scintillation measurements, cometary studies, direct spacecraft observations from Venera 9, Venera 10, Helios 1 and Helios 2, energetic particle propagation in the interplanetary medium and shock-particle interactions. Also included are reports on coronal hole and solar wind studies during STIP Interval I (September-October 1975) and the dynamic solar-Terrestrial events that occurred during STIP Interval II (15 March-15 May 1976).

Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts, which has appeared in semi-annual volumes since 1969, is de voted to the recording, summarizing and indexing of astronomical publications throughout the world. It is prepared under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (according to a resolution adopted at the 14th General Assembly in 1970). Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts aims to present a comprehensive documentation of literature in all fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Every effort will be made to ensure that the average time interval between the date of receipt of the original literature and publication of the abstracts will not exceed eight months. This time interval is near to that achieved by monthly abstracting journals, com pared to which our system of accumulating abstracts for about six months offers the advantage of greater convenience for the user. Volume 20 contains literature published in 1977 and received before February 20, 1978; some older literature which was received late and which is not recorded in earlier volumes is also included. We acknowledge with thanks contributions to this volume by Dr. J. BouSka, Prague, who surveyed journals and publications in Czech and supplied us with abstracts in English, and by Prof. P. Brosche, Bonn, who supplied us with literature concerning some border fields of astronomy.

Physics of the Inner Heliosphere gives for the first time a comprehensive and complete summary of our knowledge of the inner solar system. Using data collected over more than 11 years by the HELIOS twin solar probes, one of the most successful ventures in unmanned space exploration, the authors have compiled 10 extensive reviews of the physical processes of the inner heliosphere and their connections to the solar atmosphere. Researchers and advanced students in space and plasma physics, astronomy, and solar physics will be surprised to see just how closely the heliosphere is tied to the sun and how sensitively it depends on our star. The four chapters of Volume I of the work deal with large-scale phenomena: - observations of the solar corona - the structure of the interplanetary medium - the interplanetary magnetic field - interplanetary dust.

These proceedings contain the review and contributed papers given at the SMY--SMA Workshop held in Irkutsk (USSR), 17--24 June 1985. The main themes of the Workshop were plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics with applications to processes occurring in solar flares. The papers published in this volume are organized around the following topics: -- the reconnection of coronal magnetic fields as a source of flare energy -- the acceleration of particles to high energies -- the dynamics of interplanetary clouds and shocks

Informal discussions in 1977 among a number of scientists asso ciated with solar and interplanetary physics revealed a need for a dialogue between the two often-divergent groups. It was clear that the latter group was dependent essentially on the sun for its raison d'etre. On the other hand it was also clear that the former group could benefit in its search for insight vis-a-vis solar activity by looking beyond the shell of the inner corona. Needless to add that the combined solar/interplanetary topic is relevant to astrophysics when one considers stellar winds and binary star flows. It was felt, there fore, that a symposium was essential to bring together, for the first time, leading solar and interplanetary physicists from the interna tional community to discuss and record herein their own research. The fundamental physical processes underlying our own capricious star's activity can be understood only by the coupling of solar and interplan etary topics in an intimate observational and theoretical structure. This book, intended for active research scientists and advanced grad uate students, is an important step in this direction. The background of solar and interplanetary dynamics is provided in Part I (The Life History of Coronal Structures and Fields) and Part II (Coronal and Interplanetary Responses to Long Time Scale Phenomena).