Atomic and Molecular Data for Space Astronomy. Needs, analysis, and availability (A selection of papers presented at the Joint Commission Meeting III of the 21st IAU General Assembly held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 23 July - 1 August 1991)

This is a reference book for working astronomers and astrophysicists. Forming the proceedings of a recent IAU meeting where the availability and the needs of atomic and molecular data were discussed, the papers discuss existing and planned instruments for astronomical spectroscopy from earth-orbiting satellites. In particular, the atomic and molecular parameters that are, or will be, needed for analysis of the data obtained by these instruments are considered. A number of significant shortcomings in the available databases are identified. A second group of papers provides a current inventory of atomic and molecular data compilations.