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      V   V   SSSS   OOO   PPPP                 \__      |_|      __/         
      V   V  S      O   O  P   P                   --____/ \____--            
      V   V   SSS   O   O  PPPP                    _ _ _ --- _ _ _            
       V V       S  O   O  P                      |_|_|_|  @|_|_|_|           
        V    SSSS    OOO   P                             o-o                  
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      ***  N    E    W    S  ***                        <)                    

PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN SPECIAL ISSUE

The planned special issue of the PASJ to be devoted to VSOP-related papers, as outlined last issue, has met with a positive response, and it appears that of the order of ten papers will be submitted (for details, see http://www.asj.or.jp/pasj/en/index-E.html). Last issue's tentative suggestion of the anniversary of HALCA's launch as a submission deadline has proven to be optimistic however, and we now propose the end of April as a firmer deadline, for publication in the second half of next year.

RECENT MEETINGS

The annual Space Science Symposium was held at ISAS on January 6th and 7th. One of ISAS's most important meetings of the year, the Symposium is the forum for the presentation and discussion of plans for future ISAS missions. One important session was devoted to the ongoing process of defining JAXA's long term vision and ISAS's place within it. VSOP-2 was allocated 1 hour, in which 4 talks outlining the mission and progress with planning were given. Twelve posters related to VSOP-2 were also presented.

VSOP-2 plans and progress were also presented and discussed at the annual VLBI Kondan-kai (domestic VLBI consortium) meeting, hosted by ISAS VSOP group from December 22nd to 24th.

VSOP-2 PROPOSAL

The previous VSOP-2 proposal has been thoroughly revised and updated for submission to ISAS in response to the soon coming call for proposals. Printing of the proposal will be completed by the end of the month. We thank those who sent us letters of support from the international community. Work will soon start on an English translation of the proposal. The proposal review is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

HALCA MOVIE

A 30 minute movie about the launch of HALCA and the first VSOP results was made for ISAS in 1998. Approval was given last year for a new movie of about 25 minutes duration, to be completed by the end of this March. The new movie will include more scientific results and also describe future plans.

VLBI OBSERVATIONS OF HUYGENS AT TITAN

The long-awaited arrival of the Huygens probe at Titan on the 14th has been widely reported. VLBI tracking of the probe's descent was a late addition to plans for the encounter, but has proven to be a very successful undertaking. Auto- and cross-correlation of VLBI data will enable the realization of one of the major objectives of the mission - investigation of the wind dynamic of Titan's atmosphere. The radio astronomy segment of the Huygens mission is being led by JIVE and involved observatories and institutes in Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA, and we applaud their efforts!

                Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi