Because of the improvements in CCD detector quality and availability, as well as the increased performance and lower prices of PC compatible computers and digitizer boards, the time is ripe for getting amateur astronomers interested in speckle interferometry. Presented is a low–cost (under $1500 U.S., without computer) prototype astrometric speckle interferometry package suitable for use by amateur astronomers on their own telescopes. Table 1 lists the names and addresses of the manufacturers of the various products required as well as their prices.

The new fifth edition of the Bright Star Catalogue (BSC5) will include speckle interferometric data in specially allocated columns of the main catalog. Speckle observations have already been included for some 1,800 “bright” stars and more are expected from recent sources. In addition to the separations for resolved pairs, upper limits will be included for stars that have not been resolved. This paper describes how the speckle data have been incorporated into the catalog and gives examples of the new format.

A new speckle interferometer began operation with the 66-cm refractor in Oct. 1990. The interferometer is an improved version of the one operated by CHARA at Georgia State University. We describe the instrument, its calibration, and first observational results.

First, I wish to express my appreciation of the honour implied by the dedication to me of the proceedings of this Colloquium. It is, of course, gratifying that colleagues should wish to make such a gesture, but I can think of many others in the field, many participants in this meeting, who are at least as worthy of a similar honour. I can only be grateful that the Scientific Organizing Committee chose me. I would also like to thank both it and the Local Organizing Committee, on your behalf as well as my own, for all the hard work that has made this Colloquium possible. I know enough of organizing meetings to guess at what has been involved in making this one run so smoothly. I have organized both IAU Colloquia and a meeting of the AAS, but I have never tried to do the two within three months of each other, as our hosts have done on this occasion!

At the invitation of the SOC, Drs. Y. Balega and A. Tokovinin gave informal presentations concerning the current situation of astronomers in the former USSR. Their experiences provided “snapshots” of particular aspects of Russian science at this critical time in history, and we consider their words and the ensuing discussion to be an important aspect of this Colloquium – Editors