Astronomical Association of Jamaica (AAJ)

The Astronomical Association of Jamaica (AAJ) was formed in 1948 as an Amateur Astronomical Society. Initially, the AAJ membership comprised persons from all walks of life including Science Professors from the then University College of the West Indies now University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI).

Some six decades later in 2008, the AAJ is still the premier astronomy (Space) group in Jamaica and has been instrumental in taking the distant realm of the extraterrestrial right into the everyday lives of Jamaicans. The AAJ hosts parties organised around significant astronomical events and members continually head out to schools to do presentations. The AAJ holds monthly meetings, normally in the Physics Department of the University of the West Indies. Meetings are held at other venues as well, towards outreach and networking.

A major continuing project of the AAJ is the renovation of The Stony Hill Observatory with the help of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF). The observatory, housing a 21 inch (0.53m) refractor sustained some hurricane damage, and the tracks of the mechanical sliding roof require repair to allow viewing. The telescope itself is in fine condition and the AAJ will encourage viewers from all corners of the planet to take advantage of the unique view of the Jamaican sky (just as notable astronomers of old) once rennovation is complete.