The 45 papers presented at Symposium 14 highlight the current state of the art in observational X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy and its impact on our understanding of high-energy astrophysical phenomena. Three main themes were covered during the Symposium. Firstly, a mission oriented overview of the current status in observational X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy including recent results from Exosat, Mir-Kvant, Tenma, Ginga and Cos-B. Secondly, the relevance of X-ray and Gamma-ray observations in the context of research themes in astrophysics with special emphasis on the evaluation of outstanding questions related to stellar coronae, supernova remnants, compact binaries, pulsars, active neutron stars, galactic structure, active galactic nuclei and galaxy clusters. Thirdly, the potential of future projects - for example, Granat, GRO, Rosat, Astro-D, Sax, XTE, AXAF and XMM was assessed in relation to forthcoming missions.

Section headings and selected papers: Preface. State of the Art in Observational X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Astronomy. Studies of compact objects with Einstein: review and prospects, J E Grindlay. Orientations, ellipticities and nearest-neighbor correlations in rich clusters of galaxies, M P Ulmer et al . Astronomy with EXOSAT, N E White. Hard X-rays from supernova 1987A, R A Sunyaev et al . Balloon-borne hard X-ray observations of SN 1987A, G J Fishman et al . Progress in Gamma-ray burst astronomy with GINGA, T Murakami. Gamma rays and interstellar gas in the Cepheus region: a new Gamma-ray source? I A Grenier &
F Lebrun.
Pulse phase studies of X-ray emission from GX301-2, D A Leahy &
M Matsuok
. X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Observations in the Context of Research Themes in Astrophysics: Current Status and Highlighting Outstanding Problems. Stellar X-ray astronomy, J H M M Schmitt. X-ray spectral diagnostics for coronal loop sizes and heating rates in the active K Dwarf AB Doradus, A C Cameron &
O Vilhu.
ow-mass X-ray binaries and black hole candidates: a comparison drawn from recent results, H Inoue. Fast transient X-rays and Gamma-ray bursts - Are they stellar flares? A R Rao &
M N Vahia
Search for optical counterparts of Gamma-ray transients, J Greiner et al . Clusters of galaxies and the hot intracluster medium, C Jones &
W Forman.
Scientific Potential of Planned Missions: Future Perspectives. The SIGMA mission on the GRANAT satellite, J P Roques et al . The Gamma-ray observatory GRO in perspective, V Schonfelder. The X-ray astronomy mission SAX, G C Perola. The driftless gas scintillation proportional counter, M Heppener et al . Author index.