About the ASV

The ASV is a non-profit society for people interested in Astronomy, attracting and catering for people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, abilities and interests. First formed in 1922 the society has grown to over one thousand members. Its activities are coordinated by a council of elected Office Bearers, Section Directors, and ordinary Councillors.

The ASV has weekly activities at the ASV Lodge and a Monthly Meeting at the Herbarium near the Melbourne Observatory. The society's library is also located at the Melbourne Observatory and is open during Monthly Meeting times. For over 50 years the ASV has played a major role in the care of buildings and facilities at the Melbourne Observatory.

Our members conduct Astronomy for the People gatherings throughout the year, bringing telescopes and astronomy to Melbourne's parks and schools. Please check the calendar for details if you are interested in attending one of these events.

Our major project is currently the restoration of the Great Melbourne Telescope.

Thanks to a generous donation from one of its most long standing and respected members, the Leon Mow Dark Sky Site, located north of Melbourne, has a pristine night sky for deep sky observing. The ASV has a 25-inch and a 40-inch telescope at the Leon Mow Dark Sky Site and a 20-inch telescope at the ASV Lodge.

An annual Yearbook is supplied to members as well as a bimonthly newsletter (CRUX) which all members are welcome to contribute to.

The ASV's logo shows the Southern Cross and Pointer stars. Its Motto is "Sic itur ad astra" which is translated as "this way to the stars".

ASV is governed by a set of rules which should be read before applying for membership. This document may be downloaded by clicking here.

Any person or organisation with an interest in astronomy may apply for membership of the Society. Join now

Past Presidents

Year	President
1922-25	C.J. Merfield*
1926	J.D. Michie*
1927	P.H. Johson*
1928-33	J. A. Moroney*
1934	G. H. Woodhouse*
1935-41	J.A. Moroney*
1942-44	J.F. Skjellerup*
1945	J.C. Hewitson*
1946	W.N. Brook*
1947	J.G. Evans*
1948	L.T. Whitney *
1949	V.W. Straford*
1950	R.G. Gilmour*
1951	A.W. Walker*
1952	H. Byrt*
1953	J.R. Carroll*
1953	J.C. Hewitson*
1954	W.N. Brook*
1955	J.P. Hamilton*
1956	E.L. James*
1957	W.G.H. Tregear*
1958	L.R. Whitby*
1959	K.W. Murphy
1960-61	J.L. Perdrix*
1962	L.R. Whitby*
1963	W.G.H. Tregear*
1964-66	F.P. Owen*
1967-68	J.L. Perdrix*
1969	J.B. Trainor*
1970	G.A. Duncan*
1971-72	T.B. Tregaskis*
1973-74	A.E. Coombs
1975	A.L. Le Marquand*
1976	T.B. Tregaskis*
1977-78	R.J.C. Lawrence*
1979-80	B.S. Adcock
1981-83	D.H. Walker *
1984-85	B.J. Poppleton*
1986-87	D.W. Orchiston
1988-89	K.McK. Harrison
1990-91	J.L. Park
1992-93	C.C. Hyde *
1994-95	S.D. Pattie
1996-98	P. Vlahos
1999	T.J. Richards
2000	R.B. Davis
2001-03	P. Vlahos
2004-05	B.J. Cleland
2006-07	B.S. Adcock
2008-09	P. Vlahos
2010-11	B.S. Adcock
2012-14	K. J. Le Marquand
2015-16	C. Rudge
2017-18	P. Vlahos
2019	Dr. R. Cockman
2019-2021	S. Pattie
2021-2022	C. Rudge
2022-current	M. Iscaro

Note: the dates above indicate the calendar year in which the presidents were elected.

Honorary Life Members

Mr B.S. Adcock	Mr J. Pollock
Mr K. Beard	Dr B.J. Poppleton *
Mr W. Bradfield *	Dr A. Prentice
Mr R. Brown	Mrs G. Racine
Mr A. Cavill	Mr I. Sullivan
Dr B. Clark	Mr J.B. Trainor *
Mr A.E. Coombs	Mr T. B. Tregaskis *
Mr E. Gainsford	Mr D.H. Walker *
Mrs J. Mitchell	Mr R. Ward
Mr S.D. Pattie	Mr J. White
Mr N. Plever	Mr L.T. Whitney *
Mr V. Lo Schiavo	Mrs F. Lo Schiavo
Mr P. Vlahos	Mr C. Rudge

* Deceased