The American Astronomical Society (AAS) holds two meetings each year, and the January one is the largest. This year, Long Beach, California, plays host to the society’s 221st meeting from January 6 through 10, where some 2,800 astronomers, educators, students, and journalists are expected to attend. The meeting includes 10 press conferences, and more than 1,900 science talks and poster presentations, plus a few “town hall” meetings that touch on the future of astronomy.

It’ll be a busy and exciting week between the discovery announcements, mission updates, seeking for article ideas, and catching up with magazine contributors. Throughout the conference I’ll keep you posted about the big announcements. Make sure to follow the Local Group blog and Twitter for updates from the 221st AAS meeting.