The activities of COMPASSE are structured around five topical subcommittees:
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Vice-chairs:
Jessica Heim (University of Southern Queensland)
and Lucie Afko (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
The Community Engagement Subcommittee (CESC) engages with AAS members on light pollution, radio interference, space debris (LPRISD) and satellite constellation (SatCon) issues. It communicates COMPASSE activities and related information to the broader AAS membership. The CESC enables AAS members to learn more about the relevant issues and contribute to meaningful solutions. It serves as the conduit for members who would like to participate in LPRISD and SatCon education, outreach, and advocacy.
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
Vice-chairs:
Sarah Marie Bruno (Villanova University)
and Josh Reding (Aerospace Corp.)
The Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Subcommittee is charged with monitoring and responding to issues of interference across the electromagnetic spectrum that may impact astronomical research. It keeps a close watch on U.S. national and international regulatory developments, particularly at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where policy decisions can have profound impacts on the ability of astronomers to access the spectrum for scientific discovery. It also coordinates with the Public Policy Subcommittee and AAS Policy staff to contribute toward AAS comments and statements on such actions.
LIGHT POLLUTION
Chair:
James Lowenthal (Smith College)
The Light Pollution (LP) is the counterpart to the Electromagnetic Interference Subcommittee specializing in the consequences to astronomy of artificial light at night. This includes both terrestrial light pollution (‘skyglow’) effects as well as interfering optical light from sources in space. It works with outside organizations like the Illuminating Engineering Society and DarkSky International with the goal of promoting darker night skies and the protection of observatory sites.
PUBLIC POLICY
Vice-chairs:
Richard Green (University of Arizona)
and John Barentine (Dark Sky Consulting, LLC)
The Public Policy Subcommittee is the focal point for COMPASSE activities across its portfolio of subjects that touch on U.S. legislation, regulation, standards and/or norms. It coordinates with the other subcommittees on applicable initiatives and liaises with AAS Policy staff and the Committee on Public Policy (CAPP) in the formulation of statements and resolutions for consideration by the AAS Board of Trustees.
SPACE DEBRIS
Chair:
Pat Seitzer (University of Michigan)
The Space Debris (SD) Subcommittee gathers information about the near-Earth space environment, specifically as regards space debris that can interfere with both ground- and space-based astronomical observations and that may threaten research infrastructure in space. It stays abreast of developments in the ongoing crowding of orbital space with artificial satellites and discarded launch hardware and provides advice to COMPASSE and the AAS leadership on this issue.