The
Royal Astronomical Society (
RAS) is a
learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of
London in 1820 to support
astronomical research (mainly carried on at the time by '
gentleman astronomers' rather than professionals). It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its
Royal Charter from
William IV. A Supplemental Charter in 1915 opened up the fellowship to women. It is the UK adhering organisation to the
International Astronomical Union and a member of the
Science Council, and encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. Meetings are held in
Burlington House, in
Piccadilly,
London and across the
United Kingdom (UK). They are involved in the production of astronomical journals and periodicals. The society has over 3000 members, around a third of whom live outside the UK. In addition, those members of the public who have an interest in astronomy and geophysics and wish to support the work of the society may become
Friends of the RAS]