Royal Astronomical Society

Founding

The idea for a dedicated astronomical society had been discussed for several years before the society's formal founding; William Pearson is recorded as having proposed one as early as 1812, and Francis Baily published a recommendation in 1819.^[6] By the early nineteenth century, many astronomers felt that the Royal Society, under the long presidency of the octogenarian Sir Joseph Banks, was no longer adequately serving their interests; Banks's own expertise lay in botany and natural history rather than the physical sciences.^[7]

On 12 January 1820, fourteen men met for dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, to discuss the establishment of an astronomical society. Among them were John Herschel, Charles Babbage, Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Thomas Colby, Francis Baily and William Pearson.^[6] At the dinner, a committee of eight was appointed to draw up rules, with Daniel Moore elected chairman, Baily as secretary, and Herschel tasked with drafting an address setting out the society's objectives.^[6] The new body, named the Astronomical Society of London, held its first general meeting on 8 February 1820 in the rooms of the Geological Society in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, and its first council meeting on 10 March 1820.^[8][6]

The society's initial objectives were the promotion of astronomy through accurate calculations and observations, as well as practical applications such as navigation.^[8] In its early years the society also campaigned for reform of the Nautical Almanac.^[9] Its motto, chosen by William Herschel, is Quicquid nitet notandum ("whatever shines should be observed").^[10]

The society encountered an early setback when its first elected president, the Duke of Somerset, resigned after only a week, explaining that Banks believed the new body would damage the Royal Society.^[6][11] William Herschel then agreed to serve as the titular first president, though he never actually took the chair at a meeting due to his advanced age.^[8] When the society was founded, most members were 'gentleman astronomers' rather than professionals; there were very few professional astronomers in Britain at the time.^[8]

Royal Charter and early growth

The society first sought a charter in February 1830. Its president, Sir James South, petitioned the King, and on 15 December 1830 the King signed as Patron of the Society.^[6] A Royal Charter was formally signed by William IV on 7 March 1831, and the society assumed the name Royal Astronomical Society that it has used ever since.^[8]

Publication of research was a central activity from the beginning. The Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society began in 1822, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) started in 1827; Richard Sheepshanks, a prominent early fellow, was the first editor of MNRAS.^[8] The society's first Gold Medals were awarded in 1824, to Charles Babbage and Johann Franz Encke.^[10] Caroline Herschel received the Gold Medal in 1828 for her catalogue of nebulae, becoming the first woman so honoured; no other woman would receive it until Vera Rubin in 1996.^[10]

In 1835, the Council awarded honorary membership to Caroline Herschel and Mary Somerville, the first women to be so recognised.^[8] A small number of other women subsequently received honorary membership, including Anne Sheepshanks, Lady Huggins, Agnes Mary Clerke, Annie Jump Cannon and Williamina Fleming.^[12]

In 1846 the RAS absorbed the Spitalfields Mathematical Society, which had been founded in 1717 but was suffering from a decline in membership and dwindling finances. The nineteen remaining members of the mathematical society were given free lifetime membership of the RAS; in exchange, their society's extensive library was donated to the RAS.^[13]

Premises

The society met in various locations during its early decades, including the rooms of the Geological Society in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, and subsequently rented rooms from the Medical and Chirurgical Society at 57 Lincoln's Inn Fields.^[14] In 1834, the government provided accommodation in Somerset House, where the society occupied seven (later eight) rooms.^[14] When the expansion of the Civil Service made space at Somerset House increasingly scarce, the government commissioned purpose-built apartments in the wings of Burlington House, Piccadilly, designed by architects R. R. Banks and Charles Barry Jr.^[15] The society moved into Burlington House in 1874, holding its first meeting there on 13 November of that year, and has occupied the premises ever since.^[14]

Women and fellowship

In 1886, Isis Pogson became the first woman to be nominated for fellowship, put forward by her father and two other fellows. Her nomination was withdrawn when lawyers advised that the society's Royal Charter referred to fellows only as he and therefore restricted fellowship to men.^[12] Between 1835 and 1916, women were not allowed to become fellows, though a small number were made honorary members.

A Supplemental Charter in 1915 opened fellowship to women. On 14 January 1916, Mary Adela Blagg, Ella K Church, A Grace Cook, Irene Elizabeth Toye Warner and Fiammetta Wilson were the first five women elected to Fellowship.^[16][17] In total, eleven women were elected fellows in 1916.^[12] The first woman to serve as president of the society was Dame Carole Jordan, elected in 1994.^[10]

Twentieth century and beyond

The RAS played a significant role in the 1919 test of general relativity. The Joint Permanent Eclipse Committee of the Royal Society and the RAS organised two expeditions to observe the total solar eclipse of 29 May 1919—one to Príncipe and another to Sobral, Brazil—led by Arthur Eddington and coordinated by Astronomer Royal Frank Watson Dyson. The results, presented at a joint meeting of the Royal Society and the RAS on 6 November 1919, confirmed Albert Einstein's prediction of the gravitational deflection of starlight and brought Einstein worldwide fame.^[18]

Geophysics, which had always been among the interests of the membership, was formally added to the society's scope during the twentieth century. Geophysical papers were initially published in MNRAS, then in a Geophysical Supplement to MNRAS (1922–1957), before a separate Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society was launched in 1958. This later merged with two European journals to become Geophysical Journal International.^[8]

To cater for the growing interest in amateur astronomy, several members of the RAS helped found the British Astronomical Association in 1890, which from the outset admitted both men and women.^[7][14]

The society celebrated its bicentenary in 2020.^[8] As of 2020^[update], it has over 4,000 fellows, the majority of whom are professional researchers or postgraduate students in astronomy or geophysics, with its headquarters remaining at Burlington House.^[8]

Fellows

Full members of the RAS are styled Fellows, and may use the post-nominal letters FRAS.^[22] Fellowship is open to anyone over the age of 18 whose application is acceptable to the society; new fellows are elected by the Council.^[23] Eligible applicants include those with a professional interest in astronomy or geophysics, amateurs who have demonstrated a strong commitment to these fields, and other professionals who serve the wider interests of the society.^[23] As a result of the society's foundation in a time before there were many professional astronomers, no formal qualifications are required.^[9] The fellowship consists of PhD-level professional scientists, postgraduate researchers, retired scientists, amateur scientists and undergraduates; around a quarter of fellows are based overseas.^[22] The society is a member of the Science Council and acts as the professional body for astronomers and geophysicists in the UK.^[24] As of 2025, the society has more than 4,000 fellows.^[25]

Friends

In 2009 an initiative was launched for those with an interest in astronomy and geophysics but without professional qualifications or specialist knowledge in the subject. Such people may join the Friends of the RAS, which offers popular talks, visits and social events.^[26]