What Astronomers Without Borders does

Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) is a Calabasas, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 by astronomy outreach leader Mike Simmons to use the night sky as a bridge across cultural, political, and geographic boundaries. The organization runs free global astronomy programs and currently operates as a program under Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) following a 2026 organizational transition. AWB's core "product" is programmatic rather than software-based: the design and orchestration of recurring global events (notably Global Astronomy Month each April), a Recycled Eclipse Glasses collection-and-redistribution supply chain, observing campaigns (meteor showers, International Observe the Moon Night, World Space Week), AstroArts/AstroPoetry cultural programming, and citizen science initiatives including an asteroid search program that has contributed 62 IAU-numbered asteroids using Pan-STARRS image sets.

Its delivery model is decentralized through a network of 220+ volunteer National Coordinators across 120+ countries and 83+ affiliate astronomy organizations (clubs, museums, planetariums, schools), with reach quantified at 1.2M+ global participants and 2.6M+ recycled eclipse glasses distributed. AWB does not sell a product; all programs are free to participants and the organization is funded by individual donations plus corporate and institutional sponsorships underwriting specific modules (e.g., Global Star Party Sponsor, Youth Observing Challenge Sponsor, GAM Accessibility Sponsor) and the eclipse-glasses distribution program. The organization maintains primary web properties at astronomerswithoutborders.org and astroaccel.org, with active social channels on Facebook, X/Twitter, and YouTube for livestreamed programming.

There is no proprietary software platform of note, no disclosed AI/ML capability, no patents or trademarks, and no venture or institutional investment on record; the unit economics of the model sit in coordinator volunteer time, donated glasses, and sponsor underwrites of recurring program modules rather than in software margins.

Name

Astronomers Without Borders

Legal name

Astronomers Without Borders

Website

https://astronomerswithoutborders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Astronomers Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that runs global astronomy outreach programs — Global Astronomy Month, the Recycled Eclipse Glasses Program, observing events, and citizen science — serving families, schools, and amateur astronomers across 120+ countries through 220+ volunteer National Coordinators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: AWB operates as a nonprofit and relies primarily on donations from individuals, members, and supporters worldwide to fund its programs.
2. Sponsorships and Corporate Partnerships: Corporate and institutional sponsors underwrite specific programs such as Global Astronomy Month modules (e.g., Global Star Party Sponsor, Youth Observing Challenge Sponsor, GAM Accessibility Sponsor) and the Eclipse Glasses Distribution Program.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Astronomers Without Borders is a global nonprofit that delivers free astronomy outreach programs to individuals, families, classrooms, and amateur astronomy communities worldwide. Its flagship offering is Global Astronomy Month, an annual April celebration that coordinates thousands of observing events, livestreams, AstroArts activities, and citizen science campaigns across 120+ countries. Complementary programs include the Recycled Eclipse Glasses Program (collection and redistribution of safe solar viewers to underserved communities), Observing Events (meteor showers, Moon Night, smartphone astrophotography), AstroArts and AstroPoetry cultural programming, and a 220+ National Coordinators volunteer network that anchors local program delivery.

Product overview

Astronomers Without Borders is a global astronomy outreach community organized around programs rather than a software platform. The core offerings include Global Astronomy Month (annual April celebration), the Recycled Eclipse Glasses Program, Observing Events, AstroArts/AstroPoetry, and a National Coordinators Network. These programs work together to connect people worldwide through astronomy—bringing the universe closer to everyone through shared skywatching experiences, educational resources, arts, and citizen science opportunities. The organization transitioned to operating under Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) in 2026 for long-term sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Astronomy Month (GAM) AWB's flagship annual celebration held every April that brings together thousands of events across the globe for observing programs, live events, online learning, AstroArts, citizen science, partner activities, and community skywatching. It is free to participants and open to individuals, families, schools, and astronomy clubs worldwide.
• Recycled Eclipse Glasses Program Charitable program that collects, inspects, and redistributes safe solar viewers to classrooms and communities around the world, enabling safe solar eclipse viewing in underserved regions that would otherwise lack access to certified eyewear. Has distributed 2.6M+ glasses globally.
• Observing Events and Public Skywatching Organized observing events including meteor showers, International Observe the Moon Night, World Space Week, smartphone astrophotography workshops, solstice campaigns, Milky Way festivals, and special planet or Moon events. Free participation open to amateur astronomers and the general public worldwide.
• AstroArts and AstroPoetry Cultural programming that recognizes astronomy as a source of cultural meaning, creativity, and shared imagination, encouraging children and adults from different cultures to create and share art and poetry inspired by the sky. Designed for schools, families, and cultural communities globally.
• National Coordinators Network A global volunteer network of 220+ National Coordinators connected to local astronomy organizations who help promote AWB activities in their regions, build programs and partnerships, and cultivate a love of astronomy in their communities across 120+ countries.
• Citizen Science Programs Active participation programs during Global Astronomy Month including asteroid search campaigns using Pan-STARRS image sets, observing challenges, and night-sky evaluation programs. AWB's asteroid search effort has contributed to 62 asteroids numbered by the International Astronomical Union.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.6M+ eclipse glasses distributed globally across multiple continents, making solar astronomy accessible to communities that would otherwise lack safe viewing equipment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Associated Universities Inc. (AUI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026In 2026, AWB announced it now operates as a program under Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), a nonprofit organization with a long history in science, STEM education, and public engagement. This transition was described as intended to strengthen long-term organizational sustainability while continuing Global Astronomy Month, international outreach campaigns, and the Recycled Eclipse Glasses Program. AUI's education and public engagement materials also reference an AWB partnership focused on connecting people worldwide through astronomy and distributing eclipse glasses to children and educators most in need.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Space Week Association: Coordinates the annual UN-declared World Space Week each October with synchronized global events. Comparable as a peer that similarly uses an annual flagship global event to drive engagement across many countries.
• The Planetary Society: The largest U.S.-based space advocacy nonprofit, similarly using space-themed education and outreach to engage a global membership base of amateur enthusiasts and donors. Directly comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit with donation and membership revenue, citizen science programs, and global grassroots advocacy.
• Zooniverse: The largest online citizen science platform, with astronomy projects analogous to AWB's Pan-STARRS asteroid search program. Comparable as a peer in volunteer-led astronomy citizen science and global online participation infrastructure.
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: A nonprofit astronomy education organization with a long history of public outreach, educator training, and amateur community building. Closely comparable as a parallel nonprofit that runs outreach programs, educator resources, and amateur astronomer engagement across multiple countries.
• International Dark-Sky Association: A global nonprofit focused on light-pollution advocacy, dark-sky preservation, and public education about the night sky. Comparable as a fellow astronomy-themed nonprofit that engages volunteers and local affiliates worldwide for sky-related public engagement.

Regional players

• Astronomical League: The largest federation of amateur astronomy clubs in the U.S., organizing observing events, awards, and outreach. Comparable as a peer in grassroots amateur astronomer coordination, though regionally focused on the U.S. rather than global.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Astronomical Society: A senior professional astronomy society based in the UK with education and outreach functions. Comparable as an established astronomy organization with public engagement programming and international reach.
• International Astronomical Union: The globally recognized professional body for astronomy that connects AWB's citizen science outputs (62 IAU-numbered asteroids) to the professional astronomy community. Comparable as the authoritative upstream institution whose recognition gives AWB scientific legitimacy.

Emerging players

• Science Friday: A nonprofit producing popular science media and live events with public engagement comparable to AWB's Facebook Live programming. Comparable as a peer in free, donor-supported science outreach to general audiences.
• Slooh: An online telescope and astronomy community platform that enables live observing and citizen science from anywhere. Comparable as a peer in online community-driven astronomy participation, though operated as a commercial subscription service rather than a nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/awb_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AstronomerswithoutbordersOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/astronomerswithoutborders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astronomers-without-borders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Astronomers Without Borders