Commission 5: Documentation and Astronomical Data

Commission 5 and its working groups have continued to operate at a high level of activity over the last three years. In an era when the volume of astronomical data generated by next-generation instruments continues to increase dramatically, and data centres and data tools become increasingly central to front-line astronomical research, the activities of Commission 5 are becoming even more significant. However, most of the activities of Commission 5 take place through its working groups. That was reflected in the meetings at the IAU GA, where there was only one short Business Meeting of the Commission as a whole, but several vigorous meetings of the working groups.