Join ASRU

How to join

01
Write to us

Send an email to join@asru.org with your name, the country you live in, and a few lines about what you would like to help with. Links to your code, images or writing are welcome but not required.
02
Hear back within two weeks

Owen McAllister, our Secretary, reads every application. If something is unclear he will ask.
03
Come to a meeting

New members are invited to one of our fortnightly evening meetings in Portland, or to a short video call if you live elsewhere. We explain how the Union works and where to find things.
04
Pick something to work on

You join one or more working groups and get access to the shared drive and our chat server. There is always a small first task ready.

Review images. Check what our models flag on historical plates and member frames, and correct them when they are wrong.
Write and review code. Our pipelines are written in Python. Reviews are as valuable as new code.
Contribute observations. Submit calibrated frames from your own equipment to the member pipeline.
Write and translate. Help explain our work in plain language, in English or any other language.
Help run the Union. Membership, events, finances and records all need people.

Members agree to follow our code of conduct, credit other people’s work, and respect the licenses and conditions of the data we use. That is all.

Members can vote at the General Assembly and stand for election to the Council. The rules are in our bylaws.

Do I need to live in Portland?: No. Most members live in and around Portland and meet in person every other week, but everything we do can also be done online.
Do I need a telescope?: No. Most of our work is done on images that already exist. Members with their own equipment can contribute observations, but it is not required.
Do I need to know astronomy or machine learning?: No. Reviewing images, writing, organizing and translating are all real work here. We will teach you what you need.
How much time does it take?: As much as you like. Some members give an hour a month, others a few evenings a week. Nobody keeps score.
Does it cost anything?: No. Membership is free. Members who can afford it sometimes make voluntary contributions towards our running costs, but this is never expected.
Is it paid?: No. ASRU has no paid staff. Everyone is a volunteer, including the Council.
Why 18 and over?: We are a small volunteer organization and cannot yet meet the safeguarding and data-protection obligations that come with younger members. We hope to change this in future.
Can organizations join?: Membership is for individuals. Organizations interested in working with us can write to support@asru.org.