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Scientific Rationale
As part of the celebrations of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2099), we are organizing a symposium to discuss and review the achievements and developments during the early phases of modern Mexican Astronomy.
For this purpose, we have invited a panel of experts to review the most important results reported in the Boletín de los Observatorios de Tonantzintla y Tacubaya (BOTT) covering its entire publication history from 1952 through 1972. Each panelist has been asked to review the scientific impact of a selected paper and revisit the state of the field at the time of publication. Panelists have been also asked to provide an a brief overview of the present status of the subject matter and, if possible, an outlook for most likely developments. In order to estimulate the exchange of ideas and views during the symposium, we have allocated ample time for general discussions.
Guillermo Haro was the founder of the BOTT in 1952 and served as the main editor for the next 21 consecutive years.
BOTT was the main outlet where astronomers associated with the Observatorio Astrofísico Nacional de Tonantzintla (OANTON) and the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN) reported their research results and discoveries. New lists of planetary nebulae, star clusters, emission line objects, flare stars, supernovae, chemically peculiar stars, blue compact objects, and comets were reported among the pages of the BOTT. Theoretical investigations were also reported in the BOTT; we can mention the following results as representative examples: a new methodology to calculate the physical parameters in gaseous nebulae, the development of the formulae to calculate spherical galaxies masses by application of the Virial Theorem, the numerical integration of dynamical models, and calculation of stellar structure models.
As a result of this symposium we wish to publish a memoir of scientific and historical value. The reviews will be published as a special issue of the Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie Conferencias). This issue will also contain a CD with all the articles published in The Boletín de Tonantzintla y Tacubaya from 1952 to 1972. Additionally, all the presentations and discussions will be video-recorded.
The symposium will be held at INAOE in Tonantzintla, Puebla on November 5th and 6th, 2009.
