The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science.
The 'Astronomical Society of London' was conceived on 12 January 1820 when John Herschel and Charles Babbage organised a dinner with twelve others.
The Society's apartments in Burlington House are situated off London's Piccadilly, between Green Park and Piccadilly tube stations.
All Fellows and meeting attendees are required to adhere to the RAS Codes of Conduct.
The RAS relies on several committees to organize aspects of its activities, covering such diverse areas as publications, membership, awards and finance. It also has representatives on several external bodies.
The RAS is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status, age, or nationality. The Society's Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy contains information on equal opportunity and harassment, and the standards that Fellows, staff and visitors to the RAS are expected to maintain.
Contact details are given for RAS staff, members of Council and Committees, and university points of contact.
The RAS runs, sponsors, or otherwise supports, a wide range of meetings, including a major programme of regular monthly meetings held October to May covering all aspects of astronomy and geophysics. Please click on the link below for more information for meeting organizers, and for details of travel support and notes for speakers.
The RAS cosponsors the British Geophysical Association (BGA) with the Geological Society, and some BGA meetings are held within the RAS programme of Specialist Discussion Meetings. Please click on the link below for more information regarding organising a BGA meeting, to see the BGA Committee Minutes, and the list of Bullerwell Lecturers and Lecturers.
The Society has formal associations with a number of organizations having shared interests, or offering benefits to RAS members, and has less formal arrangements with several other bodies.
