The International Astronomical Union (IAU; French: Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is

a non-governmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including
promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and development through global cooperation.
It was founded in 1919 and is based in Paris, France.

The IAU is composed of individual members, who include both professional astronomers and junior
scientists, and national members, such as professional associations, national societies, or academic
institutions. Individual members are organised into divisions, committees, and working groups
centered on particular subdisciplines, subjects, or initiatives. As of 2018, the Union had over 13,700
individual members, spanning 90 countries, and 82 national members.[4]

Among the key activities of the IAU is serving as a forum for scientific conferences. It sponsors nine
annual symposia and holds a triannual General Assembly that sets policy and includes various
scientific meetings. The Union is best known for being the leading authority in assigning official
names and designations to astronomical objects, and for setting uniform definitions for astronomical
principles. It also coordinates with national and international partners, such as UNESCO, to fulfill its
mission.

The IAU is a member of the International Science Council (ISC), which is composed of international
scholarly and scientific institutions and national academies of sciences.

Function[edit]
The International Astronomical Union is an international association of professional astronomers, at
the PhD level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy.[5] Among
other activities, it acts as the recognized authority for assigning designations and names to celestial
bodies (stars, planets, asteroids, etc.) and any surface features on them.[6]

The IAU is a member of the International Science Council (ISC). Its main objective is to promote and
safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU
maintains friendly relations with organizations that include amateur astronomers in their
membership. The IAU has its head office on the second floor of the Institut d'Astrophysique de
Paris in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.[7]

This organisation has many working groups. For example, the Working Group for Planetary System
Nomenclature (WGPSN), which maintains the astronomical naming conventions and planetary
nomenclature for planetary bodies, and the Working Group on Star Names (WGSN), which
catalogues and standardizes proper names for stars. The IAU is also responsible for the system of
astronomical telegrams which are produced and distributed on its behalf by the Central Bureau for
Astronomical Telegrams. The Minor Planet Center also operates under the IAU, and is a
"clearinghouse" for all non-planetary or non-moon bodies in the Solar System.[8]