American Astronomical Society
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The '''American Astronomical Society''' (AAS, sometimes pronounced "double-A-S") is a [[United States|US]] society of professional [[astronomy|astronomers]] and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The main aim of the AAS is to further the science of astronomy and closely related fields of science. Secondary purposes include enhancing astronomy education and providing a political voice for its members through lobbying and grassroots activities.
==History==
The society was founded in [[1899]] through the efforts of [[George Ellery Hale]]. The constitution of the group was written by Hale, [[George Comstock]], [[Edward Morley]], [[Simon Newcomb]] and [[Edward Pickering]]. These men plus four others were the first Executive Council of the society, Newcomb was the first president. The initial membership was 114. The AAS name of the society was not finally decided until [[1915]], previously it was the "Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of America". One proposed name that preceded this interim name was "American Astrophysical Society".<ref>{{cite web | author=Brant L. Sponberg and David H. DeVorkin | title=How did the AAS get its name? | work=History of the Society | url=http://www.aas.org/had/aashistory/2name.html | accessmonthday=21 August | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>
The AAS today has over 6,500 members and five divisions - the [[Division for Planetary Sciences]] (1968), the [[Division on Dynamical Astronomy]] (1969), the [[High Energy Astrophysics Division]] (1969), the [[Solar Physics Division]] (1969) and the [[Historical Astronomy Division]] (1980).
==Divisions==
Because the field of astronomy is diverse, several divisions have been formed each of which promotes and enables a differenct branch of astronomy or astronomy-related science as well as working within the overall charter of the AAS. Many of the divisions hold separate meetings in addition to meeting with the main group. The divisions of the AAS, together with their main research interests, are:
* The [[Division for Planetary Sciences]] (DPS) supports [[planetology]] and exploration of the [[solar system]].
* The [[Division on Dynamical Astronomy]] (DDA) supports research on the [[Dynamics (mechanics)|dynamics]] (orbits, evolution, and history) of astronomical systems from the [[solar system]] to [[superclusters]] of [[galaxies]] on [[physical cosmology|cosmological]] scales.
* The [[High Energy Astrophysics Division]] (HEAD) supports knowledge about [[high energy physics|high energy events]], [[Subatomic particle|particles]], [[quanta]], [[general relativity|relativistic]] [[gravitational field]]s, and related phenomena in the astrophysical universe.
* The [[Historical Astronomy Division]] (HAD) supports topics relevant to the history of astronomy as a field, and research using historical astronomical records to solve current problems in astronomy.
* The [[Solar Physics Division]] (SPD) supports [[astrophysics|astrophysical]] research on the [[Sun]], and its interactions with the [[Solar system]] and [[Earth]].
==Prizes==
*The [[Henry Norris Russell Lectureship]], for lifetime achievement in astronomy
*The [[Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy]], for outstanding early career in observational astronomy
*The [[Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy]], for outstanding early career in theoretical astronomy
*The [[Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize]], for a creative or innovating contribution to astronomy
*The [[Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation|Joseph Weber Award]], for a significant advance in astronomical instrumentation
*The [[Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics]] (joint award with the [[American Institute of Physics]]), for outstanding work in astrophysics
*The [[George Van Biesbroeck Prize]], for outstanding service to astronomy
*The [[Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy]] (awarded in concert with the [[American Association of University Women]]), for outstanding early career by a female astronomer
*the [[Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award]] for astronomy writing for an academic audience
*The [[Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award]] for exemplary research by an amateur astronomer
*The AAS Education Prize for outstanding contributions to astronomy education (formerly called the Annenberg Foundation Award
Similar prizes are awarded by AAS divisions. These include:
*The [[Gerard P. Kuiper Prize]] (DPS), for lifetime achievement in planetary science
*The [[Harold C. Urey Prize]] (DPS), for outstanding early career in planetary science
*The [[Masursky Award|Harold Masursky Meritorious Service Award]] (DPS), for outstanding service to planetary science
*The [[Dirk Brouwer Award]] (DDA), for lifetime achievement in dynamical astronomy
*The [[Bruno Rossi Prize]] (HEAD), for a significant recent contribution to high-energy astrophysics
*The [[LeRoy E. Doggett Prize]] (HAD), for work in the history of astronomy
*The [[George Ellery Hale Prize]] (SPD), for lifetime achievement in solar astronomy
*The [[Karen Harvey Prize]] (SPD), for outstanding early career in solar astronomy
The AAS also manages a Small Research Grant Award program and an International Travel Grant program, which any astronomer working in the US may apply to for funding opportunities.
==External links==
* [http://www.aas.org/ The AAS Website] (also contains links to the division websites)
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Astronomy organizations]]
[[Category:Scientific societies]]
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