Amateur Astronomers Association Inc.

What Amateur Astronomers Association Inc. does

The Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc. (AAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in New York State and founded in 1927, making it one of the oldest continuously operating amateur astronomy organizations in the United States. It is a 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid staff, governed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee led by President Katherine Troche (since June 2025). The organization serves amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, students, and the general public primarily in the New York City metropolitan area, with global reach for specific programs.

AAA's core offerings include free public stargazing and solar observing events across all five NYC boroughs and at dark-sky sites in New York and New Jersey; a free public lecture series featuring leading researchers; tiered online and in-person astronomy classes (Astronomy 101/102 and specialty topics); the monthly Eyepiece newsletter; the AAASky podcast; and a School Outreach Program serving NYC schools, museums, and libraries. Its flagship technology asset is the Gateway Remote Telescope program, which provides members remote access to two observatories — Gateway North in Fort Davis, Texas and Gateway South in Rio Hurtado, Chile — operated via the NINA platform with tiered Supernova, Nebula, and Discovery subscription access and a growing library of 260+ deep-sky objects. Additional programs include the Telescope Loaner Program for members, the Library Telescope Program in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library, and the Youth Initiative providing free student memberships and mentorship.

AAA's business model is structured around modest annual membership dues ($19-$45 per individual/student), tax-deductible donations under its 501(c)(3) status, fee-based class tuition ($10-$60 per enrollment), episodic private stargazing events at a $1,000 flat fee, Gateway Remote Telescope subscriptions, and discounted magazine subscriptions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the aaa.org website, Zoom-based classes, in-person public events, and institutional partnerships. The organization operates without paid staff, external investors, or parent-company control, and does not publicly disclose revenue figures.

Name

Amateur Astronomers Association Inc.

Legal name

Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc.

Website

https://aaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Founded in 1927, the Amateur Astronomers Association is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New York City that delivers free public stargazing events, astronomy classes, lectures, school outreach, and remote telescope access to amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, students, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astronomy Education & Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Amateur astronomy education
• Public stargazing events
• Astronomy classes
• Remote telescope access
• Astrophotography workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $19-$45 depending on membership type (individual, student, recurring). Core revenue stream for 100% volunteer-run nonprofit.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations help build and sustain programs.
3. Class Tuition: Fee-based astronomy classes: $60 for 6-week course (members), $40 for 4-week course, $10 for single class. Non-members pay enhanced tuition.
4. Private Events: $1,000 flat fee for 2-hour private event with 2-3 trained observers and telescopes.
5. Gateway Remote Telescope Subscriptions: Tiered membership for remote telescope access: Supernova tier (full control), Nebula tier (data library access), Discovery tier (student/research).
6. Magazine Subscriptions: Reduced rate magazine subscriptions to Sky & Telescope and Astronomy for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc. is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1927 that promotes the study and public awareness of astronomy through free public observing events, free lectures by leading researchers, fee-based astronomy classes, an astrophotography program, school outreach, and a flagship Gateway Remote Telescope providing members remote access to observatories in West Texas and Chile. The organization sustains itself via membership dues, donations, class tuition, and private event bookings.

Product overview

The Amateur Astronomers Association operates as a volunteer-run nonprofit offering a portfolio of astronomy education and observation programs. Core offerings include free public stargazing and observing events across New York City, a free public lecture series featuring leading researchers, and structured astronomy classes at various levels (Astronomy 101/102 and specialized courses). The flagship Gateway Remote Telescope provides members remote access to observatories in West Texas and Chile, with tiered membership options. Additional services include the Eyepiece monthly newsletter, Telescope Loaner Program for members, Library Telescope Program in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library, School Outreach Program, AAASky Podcast, astrophotography workshops, and private event bookings. Youth engagement is supported through the Student Astronomy Initiative providing free memberships and mentorship. All members receive automatic membership in the Astronomical League.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AAA Membership Annual and recurring individual and student memberships ($19-$45/year) providing access to lectures, classes, observing events, telescope loaner program, Eyepiece newsletter, magazine discounts, and automatic membership in the Astronomical League.
• Astronomy Classes
• Gateway Remote Telescope Remote telescope program providing members access to two observatories in West Texas and Chile. Tiered membership: Supernova (full telescope control via NINA platform), Nebula (260+ deep sky object data library), and Discovery (student/research).
• Private Stargazing Events
• Public Stargazing & Observing Events Free public observing sessions held across New York City locations where members set up telescopes for public viewing of stars, planets, and deep sky objects. Includes solar observing and dark sky trips.
• Astronomy Lectures Free public lecture series featuring leading researchers covering the latest topics in astronomy. One annual lecture is designated the John Marshall Memorial Lecture.
• School Outreach Program Free educational presentations and observing sessions for NYC schools, museums, and libraries from October through May, including telescope demonstrations and astronomy instruction.
• Eyepiece Magazine
• AAASky Podcast Podcast featuring interviews with club members, prominent scientists, and personalities on the New York astronomical scene, covering space missions, night sky observing, astrophotography, and cosmological research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260+ deep sky objects in Gateway data library with new objects added several times per week
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Brooklyn Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Library Telescope Program partnership allowing BPL cardholders to borrow telescopes from Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch for approximately three weeks, similar to checking out books. Program aims to bring amateur astronomy to the general public and foster interest in communities.
• United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAA is a partner in the United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey consortium, with access to the dark sky site at Jenny Jump State Park in North-West New Jersey. AAA astrophotography classes conduct field trips to UACNJ facilities.
• Astronomical LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll AAA members automatically become members of the Astronomical League, the country's association of astronomical societies and clubs. AL provides observing programs and The Reflector quarterly journal.
• Pioneer WorkssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly solar observing events held at Pioneer Works venue in Brooklyn as part of their Second Sundays programming. Joint public outreach events.
• NYUsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for St. Albans Under the Stars: STARWATCH events combining AAA expertise with NYU resources for public astronomy viewing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stellafane: Amateur telescope makers and astronomy club in Springfield, Vermont, hosting the iconic annual Stellafane Convention. Directly comparable as a hobbyist-driven amateur astronomy organization with deep community traditions.
• San Francisco Amateur Astronomers: Long-running amateur astronomy club serving the San Francisco Bay Area with public star parties, lectures, and school outreach. Directly comparable as a major-metro amateur astronomy society with similar community programming.
• Astronomical League: Umbrella association of amateur astronomy societies in the US; AAA members are automatically enrolled. Directly comparable as the central membership organization for amateur astronomy clubs.
• The Planetary Society: The largest nonprofit space-interest organization in the world. Directly comparable as a membership-driven astronomy/space education and advocacy nonprofit, though at significantly larger scale and broader advocacy mission.
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: One of the oldest US astronomy societies (founded 1889), focused on astronomy education and public outreach. Comparable to AAA as a science-education nonprofit serving both amateurs and educators.
• Chicago Astronomical Society: Long-running amateur astronomy club serving the Chicago metro area with public observing, lectures, and educational outreach. Directly comparable as a major-city amateur astronomy society of similar vintage.

Emerging players

• DarkSky International: 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on light-pollution advocacy and dark-sky preservation. Comparable mission adjacency to AAA's observing programs and a potential ecosystem partner, though focused on policy and preservation rather than direct member observation.

Broad incumbents

• American Museum of Natural History (Hayden Planetarium): NYC institution with the Hayden Planetarium; overlapping mission in public astronomy education and historical ties to AAA leadership (Neil DeGrasse Tyson). Larger institutional incumbent in the same NYC astronomy education ecosystem.
• Royal Astronomical Society: The UK's professional body for astronomy, geophysics, and related sciences. Comparable as a long-standing astronomy membership organization, though broader and more professional/academic in orientation.

Regional players

• British Astronomical Association: UK national amateur astronomy organization offering observing sections, publications, and meetings. Comparable organizational structure to AAA as a national amateur astronomy membership society, but serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AAAdotORG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@amateurastronomersassociat2906/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/aaadotorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/aaadotorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amateur-astronomers-association-of-new-york

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Amateur Astronomers Association Inc.