A Multi-Commission Meeting on Designations of Stellar Components
sponsored by Commissions 5 and 26 was held 11 August 2000 during 
the XXIVth General Assembly in Manchester, UK.
Members from 9 supporting commissions participated 
and as a result the following C type IAU Resolution was drafted
and adopted by Commissions 26 and 42, and also later ratified
by Commissions 5 and 8+24 at their respective business meetings.
(Oct 24 - Commission 45 SOC supports the resolution)

The resolution reads as follows:
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IAU Resolution of C Type for Commissions 26 and 42

ON DESIGNATING COMPONENTS OF BINARY/MULTIPLE STAR SYSTEMS

Recognizing

a. the increasing synergy of techniques for the investigation of stellar
   companions blurring the traditional distinction between astrometric,
   spectroscopic, and photometric binary and multiple stars;
b. the detection of substellar (including planets) as well as stellar 
   components by these techniques and,
c. the need for a simple, unambiguous, flexible, and computer friendly 
   designation scheme for components of binary and multiple star systems,
   
Noting that future ground and space-based telescope projects have the 
potential to detect both substellar as well as stellar components in 
increasingly large numbers,

Recommends that 
a uniform designation scheme, based on expansion of the new WDS system, 
be developed during the next 3 years to include all types of components 
and that this be reviewed in time for its adoption to be considered at 
General Assembly XXV.
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About a year before IAU GA XXV, the team re the Washington Double
Stars of the U. S. Naval Observatory will report 
to Colin Scarfe, President of Commission 26 on their progress. 
Shortly thereafter a panel of members from commissions 26, 42, and 
the new WG on planetary systems will convene to review the situation and
make recommendations for future actions at the next IAU GA in
Sydney Australia.