• Gill Medal: The Gill Medal, which is struck in silver, is awarded by Council for services to astronomy with special consideration to services in southern Africa. It was established in 1955 April and was first awarded in 1956 to Harold Knox Shaw. (find out more)
• McIntyre Award: The ASSA Council resolved to establish a prize to be known as the McIntyre Award derived from the interest on the bequest made to the Society by the late Donald G. McIntyre of Cape Town, President of the Society 1933-1934. (find out more)
• Overbeek Medal: The Overbeek Medal is to be given to any amateur ASSA member who has had his/her observational astronomy published in a recognized astronomical journal, including the Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (MNASSA). The citation to indicate for what the award is made. (find out more)
• Long Service Awards: In recognition of long service to the Society or a Centre of the Society, the Council decided to institute the Long Service Award. (find out more)
• Honorary Members: Honorary members are persons who have rendered special service to astronomy and / or to the Society. (find out more)
• President’s Awards: The President’s Award is a certificate awarded by Council – acting upon written motivation made by a Council Member or Appointee – to a member making exceptional contributions to furthering the aims of the Society. (find out more)
• Director’s Commendation: The Director’s Commendation is an award made by a Section Director to a member in acknowledgement of a significant contribution made to the work of that Section. (find out more)
• Merit Award: A Merit Award is awarded to a member for performing a particularly meritorious service to the Society, above and beyond that individual’s regular duties and tasks on behalf of the Society. (find out more)
• Observing Awards: Over the years, various initiatives have been established to promote observational astronomy. Typically, observers who report their observations have been rewarded for their efforts by means of an Observing Certificate by the Director of the relevant Section. At times, a Director’s Observing Commendation has been awarded for observations considered worthy of an advanced certificate of merit. In the past, the Deep-Sky Section issued Virtual Observing Pins for milestone observations submitted to the Section, for completing a Deep-Sky Marathon, and for completing the ASSA Top-100 Deep-sky Objects project.

ASSA Awards 2026

• Auke Slotegraaf received a Director’s Commendation in gratitude for his hard work done in the field of archiving and  conservation of Heritage Objects in the field of the History of Astronomy. Due to his diligence valuable material was rescued.
• Jacques van Delft received a President’s Award for his prodigious reporting on solar activity  and forging a good alliance with the BAA’s Solar Section. Thanks to Jacques the Solar Section is now very active. 
• Johan Smit received a Long Service Award. Johan  has been an ASSA member for more than 25 years. He has served on the Pretoria Centre Committee, been a driving force in the amateur telescope making community, conducted many public outreach activities that brought credit to the Society.
• Dave Blane received a Long Service Award. Dave has been an ASSA member for more than 40 years. He shared his vast experience in ATM and observational astronomy with beginners and his contribution to the society’s long-term good cannot be overstated. 

ASSA Awards 2025

• Adj. A.J. Nel received Honorary Membership in recognition for his long-term significant
  and meticulous legal and financial contributions to the ASSA.
• Willie Koorts received a President’s Award for his many original, varied and
  invaluable long-term contributions in support of the Society’s aims, notably
  Astronomy History research, outreach activities, aluminising services & MNASSA.
• Chris Stewart received a Long Service Award in appreciation for 49 years of ASSA
  membership and serving ASSA with great distinction and dedication, making many
  valuable contributions toward furthering ASSA Objectives.
• Dave Rick received an Instrumentation Director’s Award in recognition of his
  decades-long support of the ATM class for having built 6 telescopes given to youths
  to promote interest in astronomy.
• Angus Burns received a Comet, Asteroid & Meteor Section Director’s Award in
  acknowledgment of his imaging comets C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and C/2024
  G3 (ATLAS) which is of a high standard and support the Section’s objectives.
• Leeuwenboschfontein Observatory Partners received an Outreach Director’s
  Award for conceptualising, constructing and diligently operating the LBF
  Observatory as a significant stimulus of Astronomy in the Western Cape.
• John Gill received an Observing Certificate in recognition of his work in studying
  and recording Lacaille’s Catalogue of Southern Deep-Sky Objects.