The International Halley Watch: A program of coordination, cooperation and advocacy

To prevent a repetition of the lack of reporting and dissemination of the data obtained during the 1910 observations of Comet Halley, a mechanism is proposed for coordinating the work of scientists and amateurs, including government, industrials, and academic personnel during the 1985-86 apparition of Comet Halley. Specialists from each discipline, in consultation with other experts in the field, would recommend specific objectives, standards, data format, and priorities for observations in that discipline. Following time for individual publication, scientists would be invited to contribute results to a multivolume compilation containing as complete as possible a record of the apparition. It is suggested that the discipline specialists be selected jointly by the IHW leader an by an international steering group with members from COSPAR, the IAU, etc., perhaps in response to some form of international announcement of opportunity.