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AAS's annual conference: Why is it the biggest gathering in the astronomy world?
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a society composed of astronomical professionals and individuals interested in the field. It is headquartered in Washington, DC.Its main purpose is to promote the progress of astronomy and its related disciplines, and it also aims to enhance astronomy education and provide its members with political voices, and speak out through lobbying and grassroots activities.With the annual meeting held by AAS every spring, this purpose was effectively achieved, which attracted the participation of astronomers from all over the world and became the most gathering event in the astronomy community.
"AAS's annual conference is not only a place to share research results, but also an important platform for building connections and communication."
AAS was founded in 1899 and was initiated by George Ellery Hale, with an initial membership of 114.It was not until 1915 that the name of the society was identified as the "American Astronomical Society", and before that, the "American Astronomical and Astrophysics Society" had been adopted as the temporary name.Over time, AAS now has more than 8,000 members, covering various professionals including physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers and other professionals.
AAS's annual conference has become a grand exchange event for astronomers around the world.The 2023 conference attracted more than 3,000 participants.These professionals from different backgrounds gather together represent the diversity and inclusion of the current astronomy community and fully demonstrate people's common love and pursuit for exploring the universe.
"Our mission is to enhance and share human scientific understanding of the universe, a diverse and inclusive astronomy community."
In the process of the establishment of AAS, the association has undergone many changes and developments.The association's divisions have also gradually been established, including the Planetary Sciences Division, the Dynamic Astronomy Division, the High Energy Astrophysics Division, the Solar Physics Division, the Historical Astronomy Division and the Laboratory Astrophysics Division.Each branch specifically supports research in a specific field and promotes the further development of astronomy.
A highlight of the annual meeting is the awarding of awards from various branches and meetings.The association has established several awards to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to astronomy, astrophysics and related fields, including the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy, etc.
"These awards not only recognize individual achievements, but also show how a collaborative community can drive science forward."
The topics discussed at the AAS annual conference include but are not limited to the formation and evolution of the universe, the exploration of planetary systems, high-energy physical phenomena, etc.Each topic attracted many experts and scholars from the corresponding fields to share their research results and prospects, forming a seamless knowledge exchange network.
In 2025, AAS called on the country to ban advertising from space for the project, reflecting that the organization is not only focusing on scientific research, but also an important player in helping environmentally friendly and social development.Such topics make the meeting more in-depth and trigger wider discussion and reflection.
In addition to scientific exchanges, AAS's annual conference also creates a sense of community, making all walks of life full of hope and dreams for future exploration.Here, everyone from students to scholars, from industry to government representatives, comes together for a common goal.
"On this platform, what we see is not only a collision of professional knowledge, but also a common vision for the future."
In summary, the annual conference of the American Astronomical Society is not only the largest gathering in the global astronomy community, it is a place where science and technology, education and policy meet, demonstrating the importance of astronomy to human exploration and understanding the universe.Faced with the ever-changing mysteries of the universe, we can’t help but ask, what unexpected discoveries will future astronomy bring?
