The society

The European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe.

Astronomy made in Europe

The European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-european research organisations and networks.
Founded in 1990, the EAS is a society of individual members. All astronomers may join the society, irrespective of their field of research, or their country of work or origin. In addition, corporations, publishers and non-profit organisations can become organisational members of the EAS.

Activities and Functions

EAS Annual Meeting

The EAS organises its annual meeting (formerly known as European Week of Astronomy & Space Science, EWASS, and previously as JENAM), to enhance its links with national communities, to broaden connections between individual members and to promote European networks.
The EAS annual meeting consists of plenary sessions covering astronomical topics of general interest, and of a number of topical symposia or sessions of one or two days’ duration, organized in parallel sessions.

Awards

Tycho Brahe Medal

Since 2008, the EAS has awarded a prize in recognition of the development or exploitation of European instruments, or of major discoveries based largely on such instruments. Until 2018, it was the Tycho Brahe Prize, but from 2019, EAS awards the Tycho Brahe Medal. The winner is asked to give a lecture at the EAS annual meeting.

Lodewijk Woltjer Lecture

Since 2010, astronomers of outstanding distinction are invited by the EAS to give the Lodewijk Woltjer lecture at the EAS annual meeting.

MERAC Prizes

Since 2013, the EAS awards the MERAC Prizes to recognize and support young European astronomers. The three laureates of each year are invited to give a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.

Fritz Zwicky Prize

Since 2020, the EAS awards the Fritz Zwicky Prizes to scientists who have obtained fundamental and outstanding results related to astrophysics and/or cosmology. The laureate also gives a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal

Since 2021, the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal is awarded in alternate years to recognise astronomers of all career stages whose contribution beyond scientific research. The laureates of the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal gives plenary lectures at the EAS annual meeting.

EAS Fellows

Since 2026, the EAS Fellows programme, complementing EAS Prizes, is introduced to recognise current EAS members for their contributions toward the Society’s purpose, i.e., to contribute to and promote the advancement of astronomy, in its broadest sense, in Europe. The EAS fellows will receive a certificate, which will be presented at the EAS annual meeting following the call.

Publication Series

Until 2016, the EAS oversaw the distribution of papers of general interest in astronomy, such as proceedings of conferences and monographs by way of the EAS Publication Series (published by EDP Sciences). This was abandoned because of loss of interest in books, in particular for conference proceedings. The EAS also had strong links with The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review.

Newsletter

Since 2016, the EAS e-Newsletter supersedes both the former paper Newsletter and the short e-News. It is issued four times per year – in general in January, April, July and October – and includes reports on astronomical topics, astronomical life in Europe, developments within the society and European networks.

Connections with Affiliated Societies

The EAS provides a natural link to astronomical communities across Europe through relations with its affiliated societies, i.e. the national astronomical societies. Business meetings are regularly held between the EAS Council and representative of the affiliated societies.

Job Market and other services

The EAS website gives members easy access to the job market. EAS members and non-members can post job announcements free of charge. In addition to these services, EAS maintained until 2017 an updated list of Summer/Winter Schools.

Grants

The EAS offers reduced registration fees at the annual EAS meeting to EAS members and further supports the participation of a limited number of young astronomers via grants funded by Springer and MERAC.

Contact with European Sister Societies

Many scientific fields rely on collaboration beyond the traditional disciplines. The EAS thus provides links to other societies in order to foster discussion on topics of common interest.

How to Join the EAS

To become member of the EAS, please consult the information on membership classes, benefits and fees and fill out the online application form. If you are a member of an affiliated society, you can join the EAS for free through your society since 2019. You are invited to contact your society to ensure that your interest in joining the EAS is transmitted to the EAS Office.
For Organisational Memberships, please contact the EAS Office.

General Assemblies

Below is the list of EAS General Assemblies held at the annual meeting of the EAS (EWASS; formerly JENAM). Please note that until 2008, these meetings were called “Business Meetings”, while the current Business Meetings were called “Council Meetings”.
33rd General Assembly: 25 June 2025
Cork, Ireland
32nd General Assembly: 3 July 2024 
Padova, Italy
31st General Assembly: 13 July 2023
Kraków, Poland
30th General Assembly: 29 June 2022
Valencia, Spain
29th General Assembly: 30 June 2021
Virtual
28th General Assembly: 1 July 2020
Virtual
27th General Assembly: 26 June 2019 
Lyon, France
26th General Assembly: 27 August 2018 
Vienna, Austria
25th General Assembly: 29 June 2017 
Prague, Czech Republic
24th General Assembly: 7 July 2016
Athens, Greece
23rd General Assembly: 25 June 2015 
Tenerife, Spain
22nd General Assembly: 2 July 2014 
Geneva, Switzerland
21st General Assembly: 10 July 2013
Turku, Finland
20th General Assembly: 4 July 2012
Rome, Italy
19th General Assembly: 6 July 2011
St. Petersburg, Russia
18th General Assembly: 8 Sep. 2010
Lisbon, Portugal
17th General Assembly: 21 April 2009
Hatfield, UK
19th General Assembly: 6 July 2011
St. Petersburg, Russia
16th General Assembly: 11 Sep. 2008 
Vienna, Austria
15th General Assembly: 21 August 2007 
Yerevan, Armenia
14th General Assembly: 21 August 2006
Prague, Czech Republic
13th General Assembly: 6 July 2005
Liège, Belgium
12th General Assembly: 15 Sep. 2004 
Granada, Spain
11th General Assembly: 28 August 2003
 Budapest, Hungary
10th General Assembly: 5 Sep. 2002 
Porto, Portugal
9th General Assembly: 12 Sep. 2001
Munich, Germany
8th General Assembly: 1 June 2000
Moscow, Russia
6th General Assembly: 11 Sep. 1998 
Prague, Czech Republic

EAS Constitution (new: 2022)

EAS By-Laws (new: 2022)