Astronomical League Membership
As a member of the Delaware Astronomical Society (DAS), you are eligible to join the Astronomical League. Membership in the league costs $9.00 per year with an annual July 1 renewal date. Lynn King is the Astronomical League coordinator for DAS. You can email Lynn at klynnking AT Verizon DOT net if you have additional questions about the Astronomical League.
What is the Astronomical League?
The Astronomical League is an umbrella organization of amateur astronomy societies. Currently their membership consists of over 240 local amateur societies across the United States of which DAS is a member.
The objective of the Astronomical League is to promote the science of astronomy by:
1) fostering astronomical education
2) providing incentives for astronomical observation and research
3) assisting communication among amateur astronomical societies.
The League’s basic goal is to encourage an interest in astronomy (especially amateur astronomy) throughout America. They want people to receive access to telescopes, whether through their local astronomical society, school, or use of their own instruments, and then use them to view the beauty in the heavens.
The Astronomical League provides a number of observing programs for members that require locating and describing certain specified astronomical objects or events. The league also produces a publication for the members, The Reflector.
Observing Programs
One of the important programs of the Astronomical League is the Observing Programs. The Astronomical League provides many different Observing Programs. These Observing Programs are designed to provide both a direction for your observations and a goal. The Observing Programs have certificates and pins to both recognize the observers’ accomplishments and their demonstration of observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects.
The first observing program was the Messier Observing Award, which was created in 1967. There are currently 65 observing programs, many of which have more than one level. The observing programs are designed for both beginner and advanced astronomers. Some programs are set up for visual observers, some are for astro imagers and some include both options. A list of the observing programs and requirements can be found at astroleague.org
The most popular program is the Outreach Award, which exists in three levels: Outreach, Stellar, and Master. The Outreach Award is designed to recognize the work of those astronomers who are involved in programs designed to introduce astronomy to the general public.
How to join the Astronomical League
If you are interested in joining the Astronomical League there are several payment options. To allow time for sending payments to the Astronomical League, please send payment by June 25 if you are interested in joining.
1) You can use your PayPal account to send payment of $9.00 to
2) You can pay with PayPal using the link below; you don’t need to have an account with PayPal, just a credit card.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BH7T5RSDXKHMJ
3) You can mail payment of $9.00 to:
Robert Trebilcock
DAS Treasurer
3823 Rotherfield Lane
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
4) You can pay with cash or check to any board member at any DAS meeting or Tuesday Workshop
If you have any questions you can contact me at