American Meteor Society

The American Meteor Society (AMS) is a United States nonprofit scientific organization devoted to meteor astronomy and the systematic study of meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related atmospheric and astronomical phenomena. Founded in 1911 by Charles P. Olivier, an astronomer associated with the Leander McCormick Observatory, the society was created to encourage and organize the work of both amateur observers and professional astronomers. Its operating model has historically depended on distributed observation: members and affiliates watch the sky, record meteor activity, submit observations, and help build datasets that can be analyzed by researchers. The organization began with a small group of fifteen members recruited by Olivier through correspondence. Its early work demonstrated the value of coordinated observations by producing a paper on the Eta Aquariid meteor shower from member observations; that study appeared in the Astronomical Journal in 1912. The society subsequently developed a regular publishing presence. Beginning in 1926, Olivier published meteor notes from the organization in Popular Astronomy under the heading “Monthly Notes,” helping circulate observational information to a broader astronomical audience. This practice continued until the death of editor Curvin H. Gingrich. As the society expanded, it introduced regional structures to improve the collection of observations across geographically separated areas. Regional directors were in place by the early twentieth century, and a Pacific Northwest division was established in 1932. That division initially covered Washington and Oregon, later extending to western Canadian provinces, Idaho, and Montana. In 1938, the Canadian provinces were removed from that regional structure while California was added, and the western division was based at the University of Oregon in Eugene. A major part of the AMS’s historical contribution has been the compilation and interpretation of long-running observational records. In 1960, Olivier published the organization’s first catalogue of hourly meteor rates, based on society data gathered from 1901 through 1958. A second catalogue followed in 1965 and incorporated observations through 1963. These compilations helped make observations collected by dispersed volunteers useful for comparative research on meteor activity. During the late 1970s, David Meisel became executive director, and the society’s headquarters moved to Geneseo, New York. The organization also broadened its research interests beyond visual observation, adding radio studies of meteors and later meteor spectroscopy. These methods enabled investigators to examine meteor activity through radio echoes and the light spectra produced as meteoroids interact with Earth’s atmosphere. The AMS continues to serve as a bridge between public participation and scientific research. Its affiliates observe, monitor, collect, study, and report meteor phenomena, while its publications and programs support the communication of results. The society publishes observations and scientific interpretations in its quarterly journal, Meteor Trails, also described as The Journal of the American Meteor Society. It presents an annual American Meteor Society Award to an individual who has made a contribution to meteor research and provides an annual research grant to a State University of New York at Geneseo student who has contributed to meteor research or to the society. The organization is therefore both a specialist scientific association and a citizen-observation network, with activities centered on the collection, preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of meteor data.

The American Meteor Society was established in 1911 by Charles P. Olivier of the Leander McCormick Observatory. Olivier initially recruited fifteen members by letter, creating an organized network for the observation and study of meteors. One of the group’s earliest research outputs was a paper based on member observations of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, published in the Astronomical Journal in 1912. The society developed a publication and information-sharing role during the following decades. In 1926, Olivier began publishing meteor notes from the society in Popular Astronomy under the title “Monthly Notes.” The series continued on an approximately monthly basis until the death of the magazine’s editor, Curvin H. Gingrich. To support observations across a large geographic area, the organization adopted regional directors sometime before 1932. A Pacific Northwest director was appointed in 1932 for a region initially covering Washington and Oregon. The division later included western Canadian provinces, Idaho, and Montana. In 1938, the Canadian provinces were removed from the division and California was added; the western operation was headquartered at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The AMS’s accumulated observations became the basis for quantitative reference works. Olivier published a catalogue of hourly meteor rates in 1960, using society observations collected from 1901 to 1958. A second catalogue, issued in 1965, extended the underlying record through 1963. These works reflected the organization’s long-term emphasis on converting observations by geographically distributed observers into datasets useful for meteor research. In the late 1970s, David Meisel became executive director and the society relocated its headquarters to Geneseo, New York. During this period its scientific scope expanded to include radio meteor studies and subsequently meteor spectroscopy. The expansion complemented traditional visual observation by enabling researchers to investigate meteor activity through radio techniques and the spectral characteristics of meteors. The society’s continuing activities combine research support, publication, awards, and public or member observation. Affiliates observe and report meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related phenomena. The organization publishes quarterly observations and scientific interpretations in Meteor Trails, also identified as The Journal of the American Meteor Society. It also presents an annual award for contributions to meteor research and funds an annual research grant for a SUNY Geneseo student involved in meteor research or AMS work. Its history reflects the development of organized meteor observation from correspondence-based volunteer networks into a sustained scientific association using visual, radio, and spectroscopic methods.

• 1970

  Headquarters relocated to Geneseo

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  During the late 1970s, under executive director David Meisel, the society moved its headquarters to Geneseo, New York.

• 1965

  Second hourly-rate catalogue published

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A second catalogue incorporated meteor observations through 1963.

• 1960

  First catalogue of hourly meteor rates

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Olivier published a catalogue based on society observations collected from 1901 through 1958.

• 1938

  Western division reorganized

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The regional structure withdrew the Canadian provinces and added California; its western division was headquartered at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

• 1932

  Pacific Northwest regional structure established

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A regional director was appointed for the Pacific Northwest, improving coordination of observations in Washington and Oregon and later a broader western region.

• 1926

  Monthly meteor notes begin

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Charles P. Olivier began publishing the society’s meteor notes in Popular Astronomy under the heading “Monthly Notes.”

• 1912

  First member-based research paper

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A paper based on society members’ observations of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower appeared in the Astronomical Journal.

• 1911

  Society founded

  [1]American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Charles P. Olivier founded the American Meteor Society and recruited an initial membership of fifteen people.

A nonprofit, volunteer-supported scientific society that connects amateur skywatchers with professional meteor research through coordinated observation, data collection, publication, education, and research support.

• Scientific journal

  Meteor Trails

  The society’s quarterly publication, also described as The Journal of the American Meteor Society, presents meteor observations and scientific interpretations. It serves as a channel for communicating results from the organization’s observing network and for documenting work on meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related phenomena.

• Scientific data program · 1911

  Meteor observation and reporting network

  The AMS coordinates observations by affiliated amateur and professional astronomers. Participants observe meteors and related events, record their characteristics, submit reports, and contribute to datasets used for study and interpretation. The network covers ordinary meteors, meteor showers, bright fireballs, and associated phenomena.

• Scientific award

  American Meteor Society Award

  An annual award recognizing a person who has contributed to meteor research. The award reflects the society’s role in supporting and acknowledging work in meteor astronomy.

• Research grant

  AMS student research grant

  The society provides an annual research grant to a student at the State University of New York at Geneseo who has contributed to meteor research or to the American Meteor Society.

1. 1American Meteor Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Meteor Society official websiteamsmeteors.org