Symposium 148 "The Magellanic Clouds and their Dynamical Interaction with the Milky Way" was the first IAU Symposium held in Australia since 1973. In all, 23 countries were represented by 149 participants. The Symposium was held from July 9 to 13, 1990 at Womens College, the University of Sydney. The last symposium on the Magellanic Clouds' was held in 1983 in Ttibingen, Germany. Since then new ground-and satellite-based instruments have become available. A range of results from these instruments were presented at IAU Symposium 148 and are published in these proceedings. IAU Symposium 148 was timed to coincide with the commissioning of the Australia Telescope, and indeed, a few of the first results from that instrument were presented at this Symposium Over the next decade the Australia Telescope is destined to make a major impact on Magellanic Cloud research. Papers are arranged in five main sections reflecting the Symposium timetable: * Large-Scale Structure and Kinematics * Star Formation and Clustering * Stellar Evolution * The Interstellar Medium * The LMC-SMC-Galaxy System These are preceeded by both the introduction to and the summary of the Symposium. Questions and answers from the oral sessions are reproduced at the end of each section.

This well-illustrated volume is the most comprehensive account of Australian astronomy to date. It is both an indispensable reference book on the history of astronomy in Australia, and a highly readable study of a scientific discipline in the context of emerging nationhood. It covers not only the science, but the individuals involved and the social and economic climate in which they worked. Starting from the ancient Aboriginal beliefs about the Sky World - the earliest known astronomy, anywhere in the world - we are led through to the most exciting high-tech current and projected research being carried out at Australia's world-class national astronomy facilities, and by groups in Australian universities. All branches of astronomy are covered - optical, infrared, X-ray, gamma-ray, microwave, gravitational wave and theoretical - including the contribution of amateur astronomers. The non-technical language, many illustrations, and explanatory figures, ensure that this guide will appeal to a wide range of readers - including professional astronomers, historians of science, students, amateur astronomers and general readers.

Since Sorby published his observations on the structures of steels in 1863, the optical microscope has become one of the most widely used and versatile instruments for examining the structures of engineering materials. Moreover, to examine the diverse range of materials encountered, it must be used in both the reflected-light and transmitted-light forms, and with polarized light. It is complementary to, but not superseded by, the wide range of electron-optical instruments that are now used. Despite its extensive use, it has been described as the most misused, abused, and misunderstood of scientific instruments, for it will produce an image of a sort no matter how badly it is used. To use it effectively, even in its simplest applications, a knowledge of the simple theory of the microscope is necessary, for the theory shows and explains how it should be used. Thus my aim has been to give a simple and, where possible, quantitative account of both the theory and the use of the microscope, including the various special techniques for which it can be used. But, no matter how effectively the microscope is used, if the specimen is inadequately prepared the results of examination will be of doubtful value.

Symposium 148 "The Magellanic Clouds and their Dynamical Interaction with the Milky Way" was the first IAU Symposium held in Australia since 1973. In all, 23 countries were represented by 149 participants. The Symposium was held from July 9 to 13, 1990 at Womens College, the University of Sydney. The last symposium on the Magellanic Clouds' was held in 1983 in Ttibingen, Germany. Since then new ground-and satellite-based instruments have become available. A range of results from these instruments were presented at IAU Symposium 148 and are published in these proceedings. IAU Symposium 148 was timed to coincide with the commissioning of the Australia Telescope, and indeed, a few of the first results from that instrument were presented at this Symposium Over the next decade the Australia Telescope is destined to make a major impact on Magellanic Cloud research. Papers are arranged in five main sections reflecting the Symposium timetable: * Large-Scale Structure and Kinematics * Star Formation and Clustering * Stellar Evolution * The Interstellar Medium * The LMC-SMC-Galaxy System These are preceeded by both the introduction to and the summary of the Symposium. Questions and answers from the oral sessions are reproduced at the end of each section.

This well-illustrated volume is the most comprehensive account of Australian astronomy to date. It is both an indispensable reference book on the history of astronomy in Australia, and a highly readable study of a scientific discipline in the context of emerging nationhood. It covers not only the science, but the individuals involved and the social and economic climate in which they worked. Starting from the ancient Aboriginal beliefs about the Sky World - the earliest known astronomy, anywhere in the world - we are led through to the most exciting high-tech current and projected research being carried out at Australia's world-class national astronomy facilities, and by groups in Australian universities. All branches of astronomy are covered - optical, infrared, X-ray, gamma-ray, microwave, gravitational wave and theoretical - including the contribution of amateur astronomers. The non-technical language, many illustrations, and explanatory figures, ensure that this guide will appeal to a wide range of readers - including professional astronomers, historians of science, students, amateur astronomers and general readers.