Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts. which appears in semi-annual volumes, is devoted to the re- cording, 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 3 contains literature published in 1970 and received before August IS, 1970; some older lite- rature which was received late and which is not recorded in earlier volumes is also included.