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AMERICAN METEOR SOCIETY LTD
Geneseo, NY · EIN 161437389 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE U00Z · Science & Technology · Micro (<$100K) · amsmeteors.org
revenue
$6K
expenses
$384
net assets
$104K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Encouraging and promoting meteoric astronomy by publishing newsletters and bulletins and by establishing a worldwide network of radio meteor stations to collect, plot and report information on meteors, meteoric fireballs, meteoric trains and related meteoric phenomena.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Meteor Society Ltd promotes meteoric astronomy through a global network of amateur observers who collect and report data on meteors, fireballs, and meteor showers. The organization supports scientific observation by publishing bulletins, coordinating visual and radio monitoring efforts, and maintaining long-term records of meteor activity. It operates primarily through volunteer observers and public participation in citizen science initiatives.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Fireball Reporting System
Collects and analyzes reports of bright meteors and fireballs from the public and observers, used to study atmospheric entries and potential meteorite falls
Meteor News
Quarterly publication (historically) reporting on meteor activity, observational results, and society news for members and contributors
North American Meteor Network (NAMN)
Volunteer-driven network coordinating meteor observations across North America and internationally, established in 1995 to enhance data collection
Radio Meteor Observations
Supports and coordinates radio detection of meteors using reflected radio signals, enabling 24/7 monitoring regardless of weather or daylight
Visual Meteor Program
Coordinates visual observations of meteor showers from amateur observers worldwide, collecting data on rates, trajectories, and brightness
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 7 activities
    • Conducting long-term meteor observation and data collection
      Conducts ongoing visual, radio, and video monitoring of meteors, meteor showers, and related phenomena, including long-term studies of annual showers like the Ursids and Quadrantids. Operates an automated radio scatter station and intensified video camera for continuous meteor activity recording, and produces meteor rate catalogs based on decades of visual observation data.
    • Forecasting and reporting on meteor activity
      Produces weekly meteor activity outlooks and detailed forecasts for major meteor showers, including expected peak rates and conditions such as moonlight interference. Publishes annual meteor shower lists categorized by intensity and provides real-time updates on upcoming observable events.
    • Operating a fireball and meteor reporting system
      Operates a public reporting system for fireballs and bright meteors, collecting observer submissions, assigning identifiers to events, and maintaining a public photo and video repository of documented meteor events. The system includes documentation of bolides and fireballs captured by network observers across multiple states and international affiliates.
    • Providing public education and outreach on meteor observing
      Offers free educational resources including downloadable posters explaining meteor terminology, detailed online guides for specific meteor showers, and viewing recommendations such as optimal observation times after midnight. Publishes articles and newsletters with practical advice for beginning and experienced observers.
    • Publishing newsletters and bulletins for the meteor astronomy community
      Produces and distributes regular newsletters and bulletins focused on meteoric astronomy to promote research and observation. These publications serve as a communication channel for network observers and the broader amateur and professional community.
    • Publishing scientific and educational materials in meteoric astronomy
      Authors, publishes, and distributes scientific monographs, meteor rate catalogs, and peer-reviewed papers based on observational data. Produces educational resources including a book on meteor observing published by Springer, and maintains an online archive of historical and scientific content, including biographies of key figures in meteor astronomy.
    • Supporting and coordinating amateur meteor observation networks
      Co-founded and coordinates the North American Meteor Network (NAMN), which has grown into an international network with over 500 members in 36 countries. Provides observational guidance, charts, and standardized forms to amateur observers and serves as the Visual Program Coordinator to ensure data collection meets professional standards.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Funding technology applications in meteor astronomy
      Awards modest grants to qualified individuals developing and applying modern technology to meteor astronomy, supporting innovation in observational methods and data collection.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$6K
Contributions & grants$78713%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K58%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$384
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$104K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$104K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -15.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 1
  • Dr Carl Hergenrother — Executive Director
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • ALPO Meteor Section Partner — Collaborates with the ALPO Meteor Section, with AMS members serving in leadership and observational roles.
  • American Astronomical Society Network — AMS was founded as an offshoot of the American Astronomical Society.
  • Astronomy Partner — Referenced as a source for meteor shower information.
  • Clinton B. Ford Funder — Provided a permanent endowment through his estate that enabled the reorganization and modernization of the AMS.
  • Cloudy Nights Partner — Online astronomy community where users can share meteor photographs obtained through DSLR imaging.
  • IMO Partner — Collaborates with the International Meteor Organization on fireball reporting.
  • International Astronomical Union Network — Uses data from the IAU's Meteor Data Center to support meteor shower identification and reporting.
  • International Meteor Organization Network — Collaborates with the IMO, with members participating in joint observation efforts and data sharing.
  • International Meteor Organization Partner — Collaborates with the International Meteor Organization in providing meteor shower data and table templates.
  • Karl Flick Partner — Provided video content credited to Karl Flick, permitted for use by news agencies with attribution.
  • Masahiro Koseki Partner — Partners with Masahiro Koseki to provide meteor shower information and table templates.
  • Mike Hankey Partner — Operations Manager serving as point of contact for comments and questions.
  • North American Meteor Network Partner — Co-founded and collaborates with NAMN to coordinate meteor observations across North America and internationally.
  • Robert Lunsford Partner — Author and contributor of meteor activity reports and analyses
  • Sky & Telescope Partner — Referenced as a source for meteor shower information.
  • Space.com Partner — Outlets where users can publish meteor photos collected through AMS-related activities.
  • Springer Publishing Funder — Contracted and published a book on meteor observing authored by an AMS member.
  • State University of New York, College at Geneseo Government — Hosted AMS headquarters in the Department of Physics and Astronomy since 1976.
  • State of New York Government — AMS is incorporated as a Not-For-Profit Corporation in the State of New York.
  • qualified persons Partner — Receives modest grants from the American Meteor Society Ltd. for work applying modern technology to meteor astronomy.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Amateur-Professional Collaboration Network
    methodology: amateur-professional collaboration
    By integrating amateur and professional astronomers into a unified research network, the organization advances meteoric astronomy because coordinated, standardized observations from a broad geographic base increase data volume and coverage, enhancing scientific discovery and validation.
  • Citizen Science Data Collection & Standardization
    methodology: citizen_science
    By soliciting and standardizing eyewitness and observational data from the public, the organization produces reliable scientific records of meteor events because structured reporting and technology-enabled coordination allow non-professionals to generate high-quality, analyzable data.
  • Observation-Optimized Research Practices
    methodology: observation-condition-optimization
    By promoting field-adaptive methods, optimal timing, dark-adaptation, and imaging techniques, the organization improves data quality because these practices maximize detection accuracy and scientific utility under real-world observational constraints.