Awards made by the Society

  • 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.