The AAVSO 114th Annual Meeting will be held at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon, United States, on November 1-2, 2025. Please note: Due to cost increases, the AAVSO annual meeting will be a two-day versus three-day event. There will be no Friday night events. Additionally, the AAVSO is not providing lunch this year; however, the restaurant on site at the museum will be the go-to lunch destination, and there are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity of the venue. You will have ample time during the two-hour lunch break to eat, socialize, and visit our vendor tables.
Click on the thumbnail at left for a map of OMSI.
Registration
Click on the buttons below to register for in-person, remote, and the membership meeting only. Full-time student? Please contact us for special student registration rates.
Abstract Submissions
Interested in giving an in-person or remote oral presentation on variable star research, astronomy history, or astronomy education and outreach? Click here for instructions on submitting an abstract.
Keynote Speakers
Arlo Landolt Lecturer: Dr. Peter Plavchan
Peter Plavchan is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University and the Executive Director of George Mason Observatories. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Missouri State University and a Research Scientist at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute. His research focuses on exoplanets around low-mass stars, specializing in precise radial velocity techniques at near-infrared wavelengths. He discovered the AU Mic planetary system. Currently, Plavchan is Principal Investigator of the NASA Landolt mission and the HaZE mission concept. He has built instrumentation for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and uses ground-based telescopes worldwide and in space with the Spitzer, Kepler, TESS, and James Webb Space Telescope missions.
Dr. Plavchan is an observational exoplanet astronomer, with a focus on the formation and demographics of planets around cool dwarfs, utilizing the radial velocity and transit detection methods. He is the Principal Investigator of a NASA Probe Mission concept called EarthFinder, is a Co-PI of the MINERVA-Australis telescope array, regularly uses the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility iSHELL spectrometer for precise radial velocities, has served as an Executive Committee member of the NASA Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG), and has received multiple NASA Group Honor Achievement Awards. His research is currently supported by NASA, NSF, and the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation, and his work has appeared in numerous local and national publications.
Dr. Melissa L. Graham
Melissa Lynn Graham is currently a research staff scientist in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, where she works with the Rubin Observatory and its Legacy Survey of Space and Time as a Data Management Science Analyst during construction and as the Lead Community Scientist for operations. Her main research focus is supernovae, especially those of Type Ia.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will capture the cosmos in exquisite detail. Using the largest camera ever built, Rubin will repeatedly scan the sky for 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). In her talk, Dr. Graham will cover the LSST survey strategy, the image processing pipelines, and the science-ready data products that astronomers worldwide are using for their analyses. She will focus especially on the practical aspects of data access via the Rubin Science Platform and Alert Brokers, how to find documentation and tutorials, where to go to ask questions and get support, and opportunities for engagement and collaboration.
Venue Information for Attendees
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry sits on the eastern bank of the Willamette River, in the heart of Portland.
Group Rate Hotel: Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
The hotel is located on the western bank of the Willamette, two blocks from the Hawthorne Bridge, and about an 18-minute walk (a 5-minute drive) to OMSI. The group rate is $149 per night. Use the button below to reserve your room today. Rooms are limited and tend to be reserved early, so please book at your earliest convenience. Your credit card will not be charged until you check into the hotel.
Note, the booking cut-off date is October 2nd. Rooms are limited, so plan to book early using the link above. Note, you will not be charged until you check into the hotel. You may cancel your reservation up to 48 hours before your arrival. After that time there is a one-night charge at the Group rate.
If you cannot book with the link, please call the line 24/7 reservation line: 1-800-228-9290 and reference Group Code AAVAAVR.
Guests may purchase high-speed Internet access for $14.95 per day (enhanced high speed $17.95 per day). Marriott Rewards Members receive free Internet during their stay. There is no charge or obligation to sign up for the Marriott Rewards program. You may do so here.
Valet parking is available (discounted at $40.00 per car, per night; $78 for oversized vehicles). See the Area Parking Map for self-parking options.
The meeting was well coordinated, the venue excellent, hotel was good, and the content and sessions excellent!
—Annual Meeting attendee, November 2024
Courtesy SounderBruce. | License
Transportation
Airport to Hotel
Portland International Airport (PDX) offers direct flights from dozens of U.S. locations, including New York, Boston, and Chicago, plus London Heathrow, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. The Downtown Marriott is approximately 12 miles from the airport. Transport options include app-based taxis, rideshares, shuttles, and the TriMet Max Light Rail.
For the light rail option:
- Walk 0.2 miles to Portland International Airport MAX Station
- Board MAX Red Line to Hills Airport / Fairgrounds
- Travel 15 stops (36 minutes)
- Get off at Morrison / SW 3rd Avenue MAX Station
- Walk 0.5 miles to 1401 SW Naito Pkwy
Hotel to OMSI
To get to the museum, attendees can walk, reserve a rideshare (one mile door-to-door), or go via public transportation (see below).
- Walk 0.3 miles to the TriMet bus stop on SW Harrison Street
- Board the Portland Street Car, ride 3 stops
- Alight at the SE Water / OMSI stop
Call for Nominations
The Board of Directors of the AAVSO invites recommendations for 2025 recipients of the Merit Award and the William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award.
The Merit Award is presented to any member who, by majority vote of the AAVSO Board, is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution as an observer, or as a long-standing benefactor. Previous recipients include such luminaries as Leslie C. Peltier, Margaret W. Mayall, and Richard Berry (pictured).The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award is presented to a member of the AAVSO organization for outstanding contributions in mentoring/promoting variable star astronomy. Award winners include David H. Levy, Janet A. Mattei, and Virginia Trimble.
You may submit your recommendation on this form. The deadline to submit is July 30.
Things To Do in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, is a vibrant city nestled in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, renowned for its progressive culture, lush natural surroundings, and eclectic vibe. Known as the “City of Roses,” Portland is celebrated for its commitment to sustainability, with an extensive network of bike lanes, green spaces, and a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship. The city is located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, with Mount Hood providing a stunning backdrop to the east.
Portland’s diverse neighborhoods each offer a unique charm—from the artsy Pearl District to the laid-back Hawthorne area. The city thrives on creativity, with a thriving music and arts scene, countless independent bookstores, craft breweries, and locally-owned coffee shops. Powell’s City of Books, one of the largest independent bookstores in the world, is a major cultural landmark. | Download our Things To Do in Portland info sheet.
Great presentations on a wide variety of subjects, and a great venue—just right for this conference.
—Annual Meeting attendee, November 2023
Event Conduct Policy
It is the AAVSO policy that all participants in Society activities will enjoy an environment free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, abuse, bullying and retaliation. Participants will comply with AAVSO’s policies prohibiting such conduct and treat each other with respect and consideration to create a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment at AAVSO events, in person or online.