If you are a professional astronomer, geophysicist, or similar; a student studying these disciplines; or simply someone with a serious interest in them, we urge you to apply for membership of the Royal Astronomical Society and enjoy the following benefits.

Grants programme

The right to apply for research and travel grants. The ability to demonstrate a successful grant-winning track record is perhaps the most desirable attribute to a prospective employer. The RAS Grants scheme is a competitive one, and the ideal training ground for any student or postdoc. As is evident from the person specification for staff positions advertised in the UK, demonstrable ability to secure external grant funding is a requirement of employment, not simply desirable. Get a start on your training now as a member of the RAS!

Workshop venues

Organising workshops can be an invaluable opportunity to establish new and foster existing collaborations. Finding an affordable, central, venue for such meetings can prove difficult. The RAS makes available its facilities (a 100-seater lecture theatre and a 30-seater meeting room) for workshops and meetings free to its members. Join now, and begin thinking ahead to organising meetings and workshops that could potentially benefit you and your collaborators!

Lobbying for UK astronomy and geophysics

The RAS needs the support of the entire community to maintain its leadership role in lobbying government at all levels. The RAS is the primary voice for the community in its fight to maintain access to world-class facilities and funding to support research at its universities and institutes. Your support is needed!

RAS jobs list

This provides free email alerts for new posts for jobseekers, together with an online archive of previous mailings.

Journal subscriptions

Fellows receive Astronomy & Geophysics free, and have free access to on-line editions of the Society's other journals. They may take out subscriptions to paper editions of the Society's other journals, for personal use only, at heavily discounted rates:

• Monthly Notices. Four issues per volume containing research papers on current astronomical investigations. At present 9 volumes, each of about 1000 pp., are published each year. 2009 prices:
Fellows aged 30 and over at 1 January 2010 or who completed full time education more than 5 years ago: £245
Fellows under 30 at 1 January 2010 or who completed full time education less than 5 years ago: £164
Fellows in full time education: £82

• Geophysical Journal International. Four volumes each comprising three issues are published each year containing research papers on seismology, oceanography, terrestrial magnetism, etc. 2009 prices:
Fellows aged 30 and over at 1st January 2010 or who completed full time education more than 5 years ago: £102
Fellows under 30 at 1st January 2010 or who completed full time education less than 5 years ago: £68
Fellows in full time education: £34

• Fellows may also purchase The Observatory magazine at the discounted price of £12.00 (free to UK postgraduate students on application), and the Journal for the History of Astronomy at the discounted rate of £34.

Other benefits

• Free online access to the Society's research journals (Monthly Notices of the RAS and Geophysical Journal International)

• A free subscription to the full-colour Astronomy & Geophysics.

• Reduced membership rates for other societies affiliated to the RAS as well as discounted prices for items for sale by the Society.

• Discounts on selected books, journals and attractions.

• Free attendance at all RAS scientific meetings in Burlington House.

• Discounted registration fees at the annual RAS National Astronomy Meeting.

• Book loans from the Society's Library.

• Free use of the Society's premises including a 100-seater lecture theatre, meeting room and wi-fi enabled Fellows Room.

• The membership fees of individual members of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) are paid on their behalf by the RAS. (The RAS contributes 51% of the cost; the balance comes from the government grant enjoyed by the Royal Society.)

How to join

To find out how much it costs to join, click here. Note that students can join for as little as £1.

To find out how to join, click here.