Announcements

A new "focus issue" of Physics World, published by the Institute of Physics in the UK, shines a spotlight on exciting developments — and difficult challenges — in astronomy and space science.

The upcoming 227th AAS meeting, 4-8 January 2016, offers workshops, sessions, posters, tutorials, and discussions that focus on many aspects of astronomical software — and Hack Day, too!

Mercedes Richards (Pennsylvania State University) has stepped down from the AAS Council; the Executive Committee has appointed Nancy Chanover (New Mexico State University) to finish her term.

The Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, rewrites No Child Left Behind, and aims to strengthen education in science, technology, engineering, and math.

When you buy items on Amazon's Holiday Toy List at smile.amazon.com, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the American Astronomical Society.

Data show only a weak correlation between Graduate Record Exam scores and success in grad school. Worse, there are stronger correlations of score with gender and race.

Community input is needed to determine what optical/infrared supporting capabilities will be needed to maximize the science enabled by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. Deadline: 15 January 2016.

Are you coming to the 227th AAS meeting in Kissimmee, Florida, 4-8 January 2016? The AAS Career Center in the Exhibit Hall has resources and services for job seekers and hiring managers alike.

Different aspects of public policy will be featured at #aas227 in Kissimmee, Florida, during sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 and 6 January. Join us at a plenary or town hall, or at the AAS booth! 4 Jan: Updated...

AAS Nova provides highlights of recent articles from AJ, ApJ, ApJ Letters, and ApJ Supplements to inform you about discoveries you might otherwise overlook.

The US- and Europe-based scientific collaborations seek astronomers interested in signing agreements for the identification of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave triggers. Deadline: 7 February 2016.

The National Science Foundation seeks community input on viable concepts for the future continued operation of Arecibo Observatory. Read and respond to NSF's Dear Colleague letter by 15 January.

The Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes will schedule simultaneous monitoring of Sgr A*, the variable source at the center of the Milky Way, in July 2016. We invite other observatories to join the campaign.

The AAS Historical Astronomy Division wants to interview astronomers at all career stages at the 227th AAS meeting in Kissimmee, Florida, in January 2016. Please sign up to be interviewed!

We're in the home stretch of our annual renewal drive! Time is running out to renew your AAS membership and secure your AAS journal author savings.

You have only until 31 December to lock in a one-time 15% discount on...