Policy Sessions at AAS 245

The upcoming AAS 245 in National Harbor will be jam-packed with interesting sessions covering all aspects of astronomy, including policy topics. The AAS policy team is co-organizing two sessions in coordination with the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP) and the Committee for Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment (COMPASSE):

Policy and the Astronomical Sciences in 2025
Tuesday, 14 January, 10-11:30 am in National Harbor 4

In this interactive session, you will hear directly from policy makers and analysts about how to share your perspective when communicating with members of Congress and with the Executive Branch. AAS representatives will give a brief overview of policy priorities for the astronomical sciences and a crash course on the federal budget and appropriations process. Finally, participants will have the chance to practice their pitches and meeting strategies, before any self-organized visits to congressional offices. This special session is hosted by the AAS CAPP.

Dark and Quiet Skies: Recent Developments, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways Forward
Tuesday, 14 January, 2-3:30 pm in National Harbor 4

The proliferation of commercial satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) has been rapidly growing since 2019, presenting increasing challenges for astronomy. In this special session, organized by the AAS COMPASSE, we will discuss what the landscape for astronomy will be like in the era of tens to hundreds of thousands of LEO objects. First, a series of lightning talks will address the current status of mitigation efforts and predicted as well as emerging impacts, including the atmospheric impacts of spacecraft launch and reentry and direct-to-cell communications. These will be followed by a panel discussion with federal agency representatives about the gaps in the current US regulatory framework and pathways forward. We will conclude with an interactive discussion between the audience, the panelists, and the speakers. These discussions will be used to guide the organization of SATCON3, a 2025 workshop that will develop new recommendations for industry, institutions, and regulators. If you are interested in additional conversations about Dark and Quiet Skies, you are welcome to attend the COMPASSE Meet and Greet on Tuesday, 14 January, from 6-8 pm in Chesapeake 6. 

Other ways to get involved in astronomy advocacy and AAS policy at AAS 245

This meeting is also a great opportunity to get involved in astronomy advocacy! Consider taking some time during your visit to the DC area to schedule a meeting with your congressional representatives. A guide to preparing for such meetings is available here. We also encourage you to apply to participate in AAS Congressional Visits Day, taking place from 31 March to 2 April 2025. Applications close on 31 January 2025.

If you have any questions or want to chat about policy issues, the AAS public policy team will be available at the AAS booth in the exhibit hall during the following times. Please stop by and say hi, and participate in the poll at the booth to let us know what your policy priorities are!

• Monday, 13 January: 9-11:30 am, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, 14 January: 4-5:30 pm
• Wednesday, 15 January: 9-10 am, 1-2 pm, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Thursday, 16 January: 9-10 am, 1-2 pm

In addition to the sessions above, there are a number of other policy-related events that you can look forward to attending during the conference.

Sunday, 14 January

Addressing light pollution on your campus: Introducing the Campus SHINE Initiative
Workshop 
Chesapeake J/K/L, 1–5:30 pm ET 

Monday, 13 January

NASA's Astrophysics With Equity: Surmounting Obstacles to Membership Science Analysis Group (AWESOM SAG)
Splinter
Annapolis 1-2, 9:00–10:30 am ET 

Open Science
iPoster
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 9:00–10:00 am ET 

ExoCore: An open science curriculum for enhanced reproducibility and equity in exoplanet research
Splinter
National Harbor 8, 10:00 am –12:00 pm ET 

NASA Town Hall 
Town Hall 
Potomac Ballroom AB, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

CSWA Hackathon - Take Action for Equity
Splinter 
Chesapeake 6, 1:00–3:15 pm ET 

Protecting Observatory Sites from the Growing Satellite Constellation Interference
Exhibitor Theater
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 1:00–1:30 pm ET 

Working Group for International Students and Researchers in Astronomy
Special Session
National Harbor 2, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Punching Back Asteroids: The Deflection of Dimorphos by the DART Mission, Jason Kalirai (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory)
Plenary
Potomac Ballroom AB, 3:40–4:30 pm ET 

Democratizing AI in Astronomy: the AAS WGAA ML challenge
Splinter
Chesapeake 6, 2:30–4:00 pm ET 

An Evening with the Maunakea Observatories
Splinter
Potomac Ballroom D, 6:30–8:00 pm ET

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Town Hall 
Town Hall 
Potomac Ballroom C, 6:30–8:30 pm CT 

Tuesday, 14 January

Protecting our Skies and our Careers: Engaging Environment and Conservation Organizations
Exhibitor Theater 
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 9:30–10:00 am ET 

The Lunar Frontier: Advancing Interferometry and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics
Splinter 
Maryland Ballroom D, 10:00 am–3:30 pm ET 

Policy and the Astronomical Sciences in 2025
Special Session 
National Harbor 4, 10:00–11:30 am ET 

CSMA Presents Astronomy’s Poverty Problem – Survey Results
Special Session 
Chesapeake G/H, 10:00–11:30 am ET 

Deepening Broader Impacts: Mentorship, DEI, and Career Advancement
Splinter
Chesapeake 7-8, 10:30 am–12:00 pm ET 

NSF Town Hall 
Town Hall 
Potomac Ballroom AB, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

Rubin Observatory Town Hall 
Town Hall 
National Harbor 2, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

STScI Town Hall 
Town Hall 
National Harbor 4, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

Beyond Academe: Exploring Astronomy-powered Career Paths 
Splinter 
Annapolis 3-4, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Dark and Quiet Skies: Recent Developments, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways Forward
Special Session 
National Harbor 4, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

The TEAM-UP Report: A Five-Year Retrospective for the Astronomy Community
Special Session 
Chesapeake 4-5, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Celebrating Bridge and Support Programs for Astronomy and Astrophysics Students
Special Session 
Chesapeake G/H, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Inclusion & Engagement in Astronomy Across the World
Oral 
Maryland 1-2, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Supporting the Profession and Community Updates
Oral
Chesapeake D/E, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Beyond Academe Roundtable Discussions 
Splinter 
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 3:30–4:30 pm ET 

Dark and Quiet Skies: Recent Developments, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways Forward 
iPoster 
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 5:30–6:30 pm ET 

Celebrating Bridge and Support Programs for Astronomy and Astrophysics Students
iPoster 
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 5:30–6:30 pm ET 

COMPASSE Meet & Greet
Splinter
Chesapeake 6, 6:00–8:00 pm ET 

Exploring Partnerships with the Canada-France-Hawai'i Telescope
Splinter
Chesapeake F, 6:30–8:00 pm ET 

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope 
Town Hall 
National Harbor 11, 6:30–8:00 pm ET

Wednesday, 15 January

AAS Task Force on the Use of AI in Astronomy
Town Hall 
National Harbor 2, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

NSF NOIRLab Town Hall
Town Hall 
National Harbor 4, 12:45–1:45 pm ET 

Community Models of Astronomy and Mutual Stewardship Program Implementation
Splinter 
Chesapeake A/B, 1:00–4:00 pm ET 

Panel on Inclusion and Mentoring Plans for Funding Agencies
Splinter 
Chesapeake C, 1:00–2:30 pm ET 

Ethics Working Group Listening Session
Special Session
Chesapeake 4-5, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Inclusive Mentoring of the Next Generation of Astronomers
Oral 
National Harbor 4, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Open Science: NASA Astrophysics in the Roman Era
Special Session 
Chesapeake 4-5, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

The Impact of Identity in Space Science Advancement
Special Session 
Chesapeake G/H, 2:00–3:30 pm ET 

Observatory Site Protection, Light Pollution, Radio Interference and Space Debris 
iPoster 
Prince George's Exhibit Hall CD, 5:30–6:30 pm ET 

NSF NOIRLab and US Extremely Large Telescope Program joint Open House
Splinter 
Maryland Ballroom A, 6:30–8:30 pm ET 

JWST Town Hall 
Town Hall 
Potomac Ballroom C, 6:30–8:30 pm ET 

Thursday, 16 January

A conversation about the Gemini Observatory Strategic Plan for the 2030
Splinter
Chesapeake 7-8, 9:30–11:30 am ET 

The Power of Collaborative Networks in the Era of Big Data 
Special Session
Chesapeake 4-5, 10:00–11:30 am ET 

SMD Inclusion Plan Pilot: Lessons learned from the Astrophysics Community 
Special Session 
Chesapeake D/E, 2:00-3:30 pm ET