Author Description

The nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) publishes the Conference Series Proceedings as part of its century-old mission to provide resources for astronomers and advance the science of astronomy. Since 1988, the ASP has published the proceedings of astronomical workshops, meetings, colloquia, and symposia to meet the community's demand for affordable, high-quality volumes on current topics in the rapidly expanding fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Since 1998, the Society has also served as publisher for the International Astronomical Union (IAU), adding their Symposia, Highlights, and Transactions to our growing list of publications. For most rapid delivery of each volume, we encourage libraries and astronomy departments to place a Standing Order for the ASP Conference Series and/or the IAU Publications. Standing Orders are shipped directly from the printer and customers receive volumes at the same discounted rates as ASP members (approximately 25-35 ASP volumes each year and/or 5 IAU Symposia). Please refer to the order form to take advantage of this time-saving offer. We encourage all professionals who are sponsoring conferences, workshops, or colloquia to inquire about publishing these proceedings with the ASP. We provide quality volumes at less than half the price of comparable titles from other major publishers, ensuring that the publication will be available to a wider audience of budget-conscious scientists. Held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 3-7 November 1998.