ASA Membership Information
Membership of the ASA is open to people capable of contributing to the advancement of astronomy or a closely related field. This means that the members are mostly active professional astronomers and postgraduate students. However some retired astronomers and distinguished amateur astronomers are also members, and several organisations are corporate members of the Society. The Society currently has over 500 members.
Anyone, especially students, thinking of pursuing a career in Astronomy should consult the ASA’s How to become an astronomer web page.
FAQs for membership fee payments and security can be found here.
For Corporate Membership please email ASA Secretary John O’Byrne.
Membership Categories
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Membership Fees
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International & Alumni status now available
A new International status of membership at reduced cost has been introduced for members who live and work overseas. In addition, a free Alumni status has been introduced for ex-members to maintain a link to the ASA and share the story of their career path outside of astronomy.
If you wish to change your membership status to International, Alumni (or retired), please contact Secretary, John O’Byrne to request a change before you renew your membership. You can initiate other changes in membership yourself in the membership system.
Managing your Membership
In December each year members will receive by email a renewal notice from the ASA membership system. If you have set your account for auto renewal, you will be notified when your payment is made and your membership renewed. If not, log in to the Membership renewal page to renew your membership and pay your fees.
When paying the annual membership fee, members should also consider making a tax-deductible Donation to the FAA. Funds in the FAA account currently pay for the various prizes offered by the Society. A small (or large!) donation by ASA members will help the FAA build for new activities.
Members who have not paid their fees for the year by 30 June in the year they become due will be regarded as unfinancial. Members who have not paid their fees within 18 months of being due will be deemed to have resigned from the Society. A re-joining fee (one year membership fee) will be imposed on deemed members who wish to re-join.
Membership benefits include:
- Discounted registration at the Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Discounted (10%) ASA membership for AIP members.
- Discounted (10%) AIP membership for ASA members.
- Personal access to PASA.
- Access to Travel Grants for students, and more …
Download our ASA Membership Benefits PDF.
Members who (unfortunately) wish to resign their membership may do so by emailing the Secretary, John O’Byrne. Members who resign and later wish to re-join are welcome to do so without incurring a re-joining fee (these fees are associated with allowing the membership to simply lapse and being deemed to have resigned). Members moving overseas should consider becoming an International Member, rather than resigning. Members moving out of astronomy may wish to remain as a member of the alumni of the ASA.