With COVID-19 on the rise again, ‘Super Bowl of astronomy’ next month canceled

As COVID-19 infection rates rise once again, the leaders of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) have canceled the major conference scheduled for early January, sometimes nicknamed the “Super Bowl of astronomy” by space fans.

The Board of Trustees of the AAS voted to cancel the conference’s in-person events, which were scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City from Jan. 9 to Jan. 13. The group announced the decision in a statement released on Dec. 22, noting that it was still deciding how to handle the events that had been planned to take place virtually. But the next day (Dec. 23), another statement announced that the entire conference would be canceled.