American Astronomical Society

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a group of professional astronomers and others who love learning about space. It is based in Washington, DC. The main goal of the AAS is to help people learn more about astronomy and related sciences. The society also works to improve teaching about astronomy and speaks up for its members by talking to leaders and encouraging people to care about space science.

The AAS wants to make sure everyone, no matter who they are, can be part of exploring the universe together. It brings astronomers together to share ideas, discover new things, and help each other learn. This makes astronomy better for everyone and helps us understand our place in the cosmos.

History

The American Astronomical Society was started in 1899 by George Ellery Hale and some friends. It began with 114 members and grew over time. Today, it has more than 8,000 members and several groups focused on different areas of space science. Every year, the society holds a big meeting where many astronomers come together to share their ideas.

In 2019, three members were chosen for a special group of leaders called TED Fellows. The society also started a program to honor members who do great work in astronomy. In 2025, it asked countries to stop allowing bright ads in space that can be seen from Earth.

Membership

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the main group for professional astronomers in North America. It includes scientists like physicists, mathematicians, geologists, and engineers who study astronomy.

The AAS has different types of members. To become a full member, you usually need a college degree in astronomy or a related science, a recommendation from a current full member, or a published research paper. In 2018, the rules changed to include people with master’s degrees and added new member groups. Other members include graduate and undergraduate students, international astronomers, amateur astronomers, and former members who have left the field.

As of 2025, the AAS has about 8,200 members. It is part of the American Institute of Physics.

Fellows

In 2019, the AAS started a Fellows program to honor members for their big achievements and service to astronomy. The first group had 232 members. Each year, new fellows are chosen.

Divisions

The field of astronomy is very broad, so the American Astronomical Society has created several groups, called divisions, to focus on different areas of astronomy. Each division works to support and advance a specific type of astronomy research while also fitting into the overall goals of the society.

These divisions include:

• The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) focuses on the study of planets and the Solar System.
• The Division on Dynamical Astronomy (DDA) studies how astronomical objects move and change over time, from planets to galaxies.
• The High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) explores powerful events and phenomena in space, such as high-energy particles and gravitational fields.
• The Historical Astronomy Division (HAD) looks at the history of astronomy and uses old records to help solve modern astronomy problems.
• The Solar Physics Division (SPD) studies the Sun and its effects on the Solar System and Earth.

In 2012, a new division was added: the Laboratory Astrophysics Division (LAD). This division promotes research that helps us better understand the universe through both theory and experiments.

Publications

Main category: American Astronomical Society academic journals

The American Astronomical Society publishes several important journals for astronomers. These include the Astronomical Journal, The Astrophysical Journal, The Planetary Science Journal, and the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. They also have an online publication called AAS Nova that shares highlights from research journals.

In 2019, the society became the publisher of Sky & Telescope, a popular magazine for astronomy fans. In 2020, they also acquired many books, maps, and software from Willmann-Bell, Inc., expanding their collection of astronomy resources.

Prizes

The American Astronomical Society gives out many awards to honor amazing work in astronomy. Some of these include the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship for lifetime achievement, the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy for early career in observing stars, and the Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy for early career in theories about stars.

Other awards include the Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize for creative ideas, the Joseph Weber Award for new tools, and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics (given together with the American Institute of Physics) for excellent work in space science. There are also awards for service to astronomy, writing about astronomy, and great student research, like the Beth Brown Memorial Award and the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award.

Similar prizes are given by AAS divisions for areas like planetary science, dynamical astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, and solar astronomy. The society also offers travel grants to help astronomers attend international meetings.

Past presidents

Many talented astronomers have led the American Astronomical Society as presidents. Some past presidents include:

• Simon Newcomb (1899–1905)
• Edward Charles Pickering (1905–1919)
• Frank Schlesinger (1919–1922)
• William Wallace Campbell (1922–1925)
• George Cary Comstock (1925–1928)
• Ernest William Brown (1928–1931)
• Walter Sydney Adams (1931–1934)
• Henry Norris Russell (1934–1937)
• Robert Grant Aitken (1937–1940)
• Joel Stebbins (1940–1943)
• Harlow Shapley (1943–1946)
• Otto Struve (1946–1949)
• Alfred Harrison Joy (1949–1952)
• Robert Raynolds McMath (1952–1954)
• Donald Howard Menzel (1954–1956)
• Paul Willard Merrill (1956–1958)
• Gerald Maurice Clemence (1958–1960)
• Lyman Spitzer Jr. (1960–1962)
• Carlyle Smith Beals (1962–1964)
• Leo Goldberg (1964–1966)
• Bengt Strömgren (1966–1967)
• Albert E. Whitford (1967–1970)
• Martin Schwarzschild (1970–1972)
• Bart J. Bok (1972–1974)
• Robert Paul Kraft (1974–1976)
• E. Margaret Burbidge (1976–1978)
• Ivan R. King (1978–1980)
• David S. Heeschen (1980–1982)
• Arthur D. Code (1982–1984)
• Maarten Schmidt (1984–1986)
• Bernard F. Burke (1986–1988)
• Donald Edward Osterbrock (1988–1990)
• John Norris Bahcall (1990–1992)
• Sidney C. Wolff (1992–1994)
• Frank Shu (1994–1996)
• Andrea K. Dupree (1996–1998)
• Robert D. Gehrz (1998–2000)
• Anneila I. Sargent (2000–2002)
• Catherine A. Pilachowski (2002–2004)
• Robert P. Kirshner (2004–2006)
• J. Craig Wheeler (2006–2008)
• John Peter Huchra (2008–2010)
• Debra M. Elmegreen (2010–2012)
• David Helfand (2012–2014)
• Meg Urry (2014–2016)
• Christine Jones-Foreman (2016–2018)
• Megan Donahue (2018–2020)
• Paula Szkody (2020–2022)
• Kelsey Johnson (2022-2024)
• Dara Norman (2024-2026)