Worldwide Organizations

An 1879 gold medal from the
Royal Astronomical Society

Do you belong to any societies or organizations? If you are interested and dedicated to discoveries in the field of astronomy, there are plenty of societies and organizations you could join. The main governing organization in astronomy is the International Astronomical Union. This particular organization is composed of professional astronomers from around the world. The International Astronomical Union is not the only society in the field of astronomy. Can you think of others? In this topic, you will learn about several major societies and organizations whose primary function is to increase the knowledge of the universe through discovery and education.

Essential Questions

• What are the different groups that study astronomy?
• Why is it important for there to be a governing body to organize and control advances in science?