Line Charges
Historically, the items subject to line charges have generally
been those relating to other
than discovery and initial confirmation of comets, unusual minor planets
(most of which are now covered instead on the
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars anyway), new natural
satellites of planets, novae, and supernovae (all objects for which
the Central Bureau, sometimes in collaboration with the Minor Planet
Center, assigns provisional or permanent designations, as part
of its IAU mandate in announcing discoveries of such new objects).
Recently the Central Bureau has dropped line charges for
initial reports of unusual outbursts of objects at all wavelengths --
though follow-up reports may be subject to line charges (inquire of
the Editor if not certain; requests for lowering or eliminating
line charges on a per-item basis are routinely approved).
Professional astronomers with financial difficulty regarding paying
line charges are given wide latitude, and such (potential) contributors
should contact the CBAT Director to request a reduction or elimination
of line charges; such requests are usually honored.
Continuing astrometric and orbital data on comets (and minor planets), and
initial spectroscopic data on novae and supernovae --- used to confirm
the object's nature or location --- are also exempt, as are
contributions by amateur astronomers that are accepted for publication.
The current line-charge rate for those chargeable items published
on the IAU Circulars
is $20.00 per line (in the printed version)
plus $50.00 per item (the latter reduced to $40.00 for shared items).
The charges are levied on the printed (TeX) version of the IAU Circulars;
one can estimate the charges by taking a plain ASCII text version of the
item and assuming an average of 69 characters per line (including spaces).
Income from line charges go to help run the CBAT, but they are levied
only on the printed IAU Circulars (not on CBETs) because of the
higher cost of printing the IAUCs.
On receipt of line-charge payments, the CBAT will supply contributors
with five copies of the printed Circulars containing their
contributions.
Payment of line charges can now be made by
credit card.
CBAT