Astronomy Enthusiasts Invited to Meet with Professional Counterparts

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Indy 500 happens twice this year: once in late May, when the world's elite auto racers converge on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and again a week later, when more than 500 professional astronomers, educators, journalists, and guests converge on downtown Indianapolis for the 222nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), 2-6 June 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Meeting website: http://aas.org/meetings/aas-222nd-meeting

For the first time ever, the AAS is opening its meeting to amateur astronomers and other interested members of the public, who may take advantage of a special one-day registration rate of $50 per day on Monday, 3 June, or Tuesday, 4 June, or both days (in which case the cost will be $100). Conference hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT.

Registration includes access to all scientific sessions, including invited and prize talks, oral and poster presentations, and public-policy "Town Hall" meetings with representatives from the National Science Foundation (Monday) and NASA Headquarters (Tuesday). Your badge also gets you in to the exhibit hall, where you can meet scientists working on major ground- and space-based telescopes, check out some of the newest astronomy books and products, and even immerse yourself in a digital planetarium experience. In addition to the regularly scheduled science talks, there will be numerous presentations and an evening "star party" designed especially to appeal to amateur astronomers and the public. More information: http://aas.org/aas-222nd-meeting/one-day-program-amateur-astronomers-public.

Attendance at the 222nd AAS meeting in Indianapolis offers an unprecedented opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the world's leading astronomers and to hear the latest cosmic news from the newsmakers themselves. If you're interested, please complete our special One-Day Registration form: http://aas.org/content/aas-222nd-meeting-public-registration

The AAS offers complimentary press registration to qualified local media representatives who wish to cover the meeting: http://aas.org/aas-222nd-meeting/press-information

The AAS, established in 1899 and based in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers and planetary scientists in North America. Its membership of about 7,000 also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects now comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.

SOURCE American Astronomical Society