4. Census of the Catalogue The catalogue contains information on 277 objects. 137 (50%) of them are stars whose outburst spectra or unambiguous mInImUm characteristics classify them as novae beyond doubt. 123 of them could be identified at minimum. 78 (28 %) are stars with amplitudes and light curve forms which makes nova classifi cation likely. 60 of them could be identified at minimum. Thus, 78 % ofthe objects in this catalogue are confirmed and suspected classical novae. 16 (6%) have properties compatible with both novae and related objects. 15 are identified at minimum. Furthermore, the catalogue and atlas contains data on 12 (4 %) dwarf novae of long cycle length or suspected dwarf novae for which only one outburst has been observed. Examples are WZ Sge and CI Gern. 6 (2%) recurrent novae or suspected recurrent novae are listed. Examples are T CrB and AS Psc. 6 (2%) X-ray novae are listed. Examples are V616 Mon and KY TrA. 6 (2%) symbiotic stars and symbiotic novae are listed. Examples are RT Ser and V352 Aql. 11 (4 %) Mira stars or suspected Mira stars, which at some time were believed to be novae, are listed. Examples are V607 Aql and V927 Sgr."

This book will certainly be considered an important reference for astronomers and astrophysicists handling large amounts of data in observational and theoretical approaches to the large scale structures in the universe. The contributions are written with an emphasis on methods. The volume contains among many other topics recent observational results on redshift surveys of clusters and distributions of galaxies and quasars, together with articles on the importance of these findings for future standards and for theoretical predictions. A long historical chapter serves as an introduction. This mixture of textbook and review is aimed at the newcomer to the field as well as at the specialist. Graduate students will find it useful for additional reading.

Large-scale structures in the universe are becoming ever more important in modern astrophysics. This volume is dedicated to the memory of the late astrophysicist Fritz Zwicky and presents 34 lectures dealing with observational and theoretical aspects of the morphology of the universe. Reports on the distribution, properties and evolution of groups, clusters and superclusters of galaxies, as well as theoretical attempts to explain these findings using such ideas as biased galaxy formation and cold dark matter, are presented here for researchers and students of astronomy and astrophysics.

4. Census of the Catalogue The catalogue contains information on 277 objects. 137 (50%) of them are stars whose outburst spectra or unambiguous mInImUm characteristics classify them as novae beyond doubt. 123 of them could be identified at minimum. 78 (28 %) are stars with amplitudes and light curve forms which makes nova classifi cation likely. 60 of them could be identified at minimum. Thus, 78 % ofthe objects in this catalogue are confirmed and suspected classical novae. 16 (6%) have properties compatible with both novae and related objects. 15 are identified at minimum. Furthermore, the catalogue and atlas contains data on 12 (4 %) dwarf novae of long cycle length or suspected dwarf novae for which only one outburst has been observed. Examples are WZ Sge and CI Gern. 6 (2%) recurrent novae or suspected recurrent novae are listed. Examples are T CrB and AS Psc. 6 (2%) X-ray novae are listed. Examples are V616 Mon and KY TrA. 6 (2%) symbiotic stars and symbiotic novae are listed. Examples are RT Ser and V352 Aql. 11 (4 %) Mira stars or suspected Mira stars, which at some time were believed to be novae, are listed. Examples are V607 Aql and V927 Sgr."

Der Urknall ist die moderne Form der Schopfungsgeschichte, ein seit dem Beginn der Menschheit faszinierendes Thema. Ais Inspirationsquelle fiir den Weltanfang ist die Mystik durch die Wissenschaft ersetzt worden. Zweck meines Buches ist es, in verstiindlicher Form die wissenschaftlichen Ansatze zu beschreiben, die den Ursprung der Strukturen in unserer Welt zu erklaren suchen. Die GroBe dieser Strukturen reicht von Planeten und Sternen iiber Galaxien, groBe Galaxienhaufen bis hin zur Gesamtheit des beobachtbaren Universums. Die Urknalltheorie liefert die Grundlage mei- ner Diskussion. Diese Theorie stiitzt sich auf astronomische Daten, die mit groBem Aufwand an den Sternwarten der Welt zusammengetragen wur- den. Sie griindet sich weiterhin auf neuere Fortschritte der Teilchenphysik im Verstandnis der grundlegenden Natur der Materie. Die Forschung ist langst nicht am Ende angelangt, und die Theorie ist noch unvollstiindig. Jetzt ist jedoch der Augenblick gekommen, zu beschreiben, wo wir in der Forschung stehen und welche Richtung wir einschlagen sollen. Ich habe die Mathematik aus dem Text ausgeklammert, jedoch versucht, viele der grundlegenden Ideen getreu darzustellen. Meine Hoffnung ist, daB ich die Faszination des nach der endgiiltigen Wahrheit strebenden Kosmo- logen iibermitteln kann, ohne daB ich die grundlegenden Gedanken grob verwassere oder zu sehr zu vereinfache. Leser, die nach mehr Einzelheiten und einem tieferen Verstandnis suchen, seien auf die im Literaturverzeichnis erwahnten weiterfiihrenden Werke verwiesen.