Fellows Membership

an image of the RAS council room
Crab Nebula

There are two routes to becoming an RAS Fellow. The Route 1 application is for those who know a current member of the Society and Route 2 is for those who do not. Both application forms can be completed and submitted through this website.

The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant, all that remains of a tremendous stellar explosion.
NASA Goddard
Saturn and the shadow of its rings

Your RAS membership comes with a number of benefits such as use of the library and archives, free attendance at all RAS scientific meetings at Burlington House, access to grants and much more. 

Saturn and the shadow of its rings across its disc, taken by the Cassini/Huygens probe.
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
galaxy

The membership year runs from January to December. Fellows will be contacted in October to renew their membership for the following year. The fees for the 2025 calendar year are listed here.

Photogravure of the Moon showing the craters Boussingault, Vlacq and Maurolycus

Current members of the RAS can log in to the Fellows' designated website to manage their details, pay membership and journal subscription fees, as well as cast their votes electronically for the Council elections in the lead up to the AGM.…

Photogravure of the Moon showing the craters Boussingault, Vlacq and Maurolycus, from 'Atlas photographique de la lune' by Maurice Loewy and Pierre Henri Puiseux (1896-1910).
Royal Astronomical Society
Close up image of Jupiter's atmosphere

All Fellows agree to be bound by the Royal Astronomical Society Code of Conduct, details of which can be found here.

Colourful, turbulent clouds in Jupiter's northern hemisphere, taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstadt/Sean Doran
Silhouette of a person with the night sky behind them.

Useful information for students interested in becoming a member of the Society.

Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
Image showing the galaxy cluster Abell1689. Credit: NASA/ESA

The RAS relies on several committees to organise aspects of its activities including membership. One of the Membership Committee's responsibilities is to review Route 2 applications and reinstatement requests before they…

Image showing the galaxy cluster Abell1689. Credit: NASA/ESA
A large blue world in the orbit of a distant red star

The RAS Early Career Network (ECN) provides support, networking and advice for early career researchers. The steering group is run by, and represents, the views of Early Career Fellows of the RAS. This…

Searching for another blue world.
Matthew Bothwell
Books on the shelf in the RAS library

As well as adhering to the Society's Bye-laws and Code of Conduct, we ask all our Fellows to observe the Universal Ethical Code for Scientists which can be found here.

Logo of the IAU

If you are a professional, 'active' astronomer and your home or long-term residence is in the UK you are invited to apply for Individual or Junior membership of the IAU via the RAS.

International Astronomical Union