Commission 34 covers diffuse matter in space on scales ranging from the circumstellar to the galactic and intergalactic. As such it has enormous scope and because of this, it alone forms Division VI. Key aspects include star formation, matter around evolved stars, astrochemistry, nebulae, galactic and intergalactic clouds and the multitude of effects of the interaction of stars with their surroundings. Associated with these areas are a huge range of physical and chemical processes including hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, radiative processes, molecular physics and chemistry, plasma processes and others too numerous to name. These are complemented by an equally huge range of observational studies using practically all space and ground-based instrumentation at nearly all observable wavelengths. A glance at any data-base of publications over the past few years attests to the vigorous state of these studies. The current membership of the Division is around 800. It also has three separate working groups.

The interests of Division VII encompass the Milky Way Galaxy and it comprises two commissions: 33–Structure and Dynamics of the Galactic System and 37–Star Clusters and Association.

The commission supported the following IAU symposia and colloquia during the period 2002 to 2005: Dark Matter in Galaxies (IAUS220), Gravitational Lensing Impact on Cosmology (IAUS225); Transit of Venus: New Views of the Solar System and Galaxy (IAUC196); Populations of High-Energy Sources in Galaxies (IAUS230); Scientific Requirements for Extremely Large Telescopes (IAUS232).

During the period 2004 to 2005, the following symposia and colloquia were related to the activities of the commission: The A-Star Puzzle (IAUS224), Massive Star Birth: A Crossroads of Astrophysics (IAUS227), and From Lithium to Uranium: Elemental Tracers of Early Cosmic Evolution (IAUS228).

As documented by the reports of the Presidents of Commission 28 and Commission 47 the fields of extra-galactic research and cosmology have experienced a higher and higher development leading to a vast harvest of results and discoveries. They range from the description of the overall structure of the universe to that of the individual properties of galaxies. The availability of very large telescopes and the coverage of regions of the sky with deep surveys, on the observational side, and the wide use of sophisticated numerical simulations on the theoretical one are starting to produce a satisfactory understanding of the physical processes taking place during the evolution of galaxies. Very often there is an profitable interplay between the subjects of the two Commissions without clearcut boundaries. This makes Division VIII, which is one of the largest of the IAU, counting 1373 members, very well balanced and deserving to remain without modifications for the future.

This report gives a brief overview of some of the activities and developments in extragalactic research over the past three years.

2002–2005 has seen rapid progress in cosmology with the publication of the 1st year WMAP results and analyses of large scale red-shift surveys, ushering in an era of “precision cosmology”. There has been steady progress, too, in the discovery and study of quasars and galaxies in the early Universe.

The Supernova Working Group (SNWG) was re-established at the General Assembly in Sidney on July 21, 2003, sponsored by Commissions 28 (Galaxies) and 47 (Cosmology). Here we report on some of its activities since 2003.

This document introduces the reports by the Commissions and Working Groups of Division IX.

Even a brief glance at astronomical journals indicates the breadth and depth of observational projects making use of photometric and polarimetric techniques. Examples of ongoing photometric and polarimetric research as related by Commission Members follows. I thank the Commission Members, acknowledged below, for their input.

There have been important advances in radio astronomy in the last three years. New discoveries both at the galactic and extragalactic scale have been reported over this period and we highlight here several of them. The outstanding results of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe satellite, allowing an accurate determination of the main cosmological constants, are certainly among the most important. At the international level, the consolidation of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array project, with participation of the USA, Europe, and Japan and an estimated cost of around one billion US dollars, takes the construction of radio telescopes to a new level of complexity and potential. We also include the Progress Report of the Working Group on Historic Radio Astronomy, that includes a description of the duties and activities of this recently created working group.

Division XI was born by merging Commission 44 “Space and High Energy Astrophysics” and Commission 48 “High Energy Astrophysics” by the decision at the IAU General Assembly in The Hague (1994). As the naming of space astronomy is technique oriented, i.e. astronomy from space, it covers quite a wide range of astronomy, almost all branches of astronomy are included by the progress of space observations. Historically, it started from high energy astronomy, UV, X, and gamma rays astronomy, somewhat including cosmic ray physics. However, in these days, space observations have expanded to low energy astronomy, such as optical, infrared, submillimeter and even radio waves(Space VLBI).

The triennial report of Commission V Documentation and Astronomical Data/Documentation et Données Astronomiques covers 2002–2005 activities, and in particular the activities of the five Working Groups: Working Group Astronomical Data; Working Group Designations; Working Group Libraries; Working Group FITS; Working Group Virtual Observatories; and of Task Force for the Preservation and Digitization of Photographic Plates.

As is evident from Director Dan Green's detailed report below, the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) continues to function in a very reliable and efficient way. The electronic telegrams (CBETs) introduced in 2002 have proved to be a great success; they allow for very rapid dissemination of more extensive information than there is room for on printed Circulars, and they are frequently cited in the astronomical literature. The workload on the Director seems to be forever increasing. It is therefore gratifying that an Assistant Director, Gareth Williams, has been appointed. Since he also serves as Associate Director of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) and performs many of the computations on which the CBETs and the Circulars are based, the ties and mutual benefits between the CBAT and the MPC have been made even stronger.

This triennial report from Comm. 14 covers the topics Atomic Spectra and Wave-length Standards, Atomic Transition Probabilities, Collision Processes, and Line Broadening.

Following the Sydney General Assembly, the membership of C41 stood at 352, of whom, at the time of writing, three are known to have deceased. Since the formation of the Inter-Union Commission for the History of Astronomy (ICHA) prior to the Sydney General Assembly, C41/ICHA has subsequently acted, in effect, as an integrated Commission with a single OC. In this triennium the C41/ICHA OC made strong efforts to clarify and simplify the controversial issue of admitting non-IAU members to the ICHA. After prolonged and active consultation, the OC approved the document “Procedures for Admitting non-IAU members to the ICHA” and the OC Secretary Prof. Clive Ruggles officially presented this document to the history of astronomy community in C41/ICHA Newsletter no. 6. It is subject to ratification by the C41/ICHA Business Meeting in Prague in 2006.

Significant and specific progress has been made in protecting major astronomical sites during the last three years. A brief summary is given, along with references to some of the efforts by members of Commission 50 to control light pollution and radio-frequency interference.

In the last triennium two International Schools for Young Astronomers took place in 2004 and 2005, respectively in Morocco and Mexico.

The Program Group for the World-wide Development of Astronomy (PGWWDA) is one of nine Comm. 46 program groups engaged with various aspects of astronomical education or development of astronomy education and research in the developing world. In the case of PGWWDA, its goals are to promote astronomy education and research in the developing world through a variety of activities, including visiting astronomers in developing countries and interacting with them by way of giving encouragement and support.

The Working Group on Communicating Astronomy with the Public is under Division XII - Union-Wide Activities. Formed in early 2004, this Working Group has been very active in establishing itself and promoting its core goals.