the meetings are open to anyone who pays the registration fee; although membership of the ras is not required, fellows of the ras do receive a reduced price. most attendees are professional research astronomers or postgraduate students, but interested amateur astronomers, undergraduates, school teachers, journalists etc. are also welcome. typically there are around 500-600 registered attendees, but the 2009 event (which was combined with the annual meeting of the european astronomical society) drew a record of 1100 delegates.