FAQ’s for Mercury Subscriptions
Updated March 19, 2025
For over 50 years, the ASP has proudly published Mercury magazine for its members. In 2023, we introduced a long-awaited digital version as a more interactive, and adaptable subscription-based online magazine featuring the many ways astronomy intersects with society - education, scientific research, art, culture, and history.
As the ASP embarks on an exciting new chapter with a Strategic Plan to guide our future we are temporarily pausing Mercury's current format. At the same time, we are reimagining Mercury as a dynamic new media platform that will continue to tell inspiring stories about the many ways astronomy intersects with society. We're thrilled about this new direction and look forward to sharing it with you in the near future.
New subscriptions are no longer available. Beginning March 19, 2025 all existing Mercury website content will be accessible free without a subscription and available to everyone.
Additionally, our complete archive of Mercury issues from 2007 to 2023 will remain accessible and will become fully searchable for your convenience starting April 1. We encourage you to explore and enjoy these resources.
We hope to have anticipated your questions here on this FAQ page, which will be updated from time to time.
Questions or concerns? Please feel free to contact us at mercury@astrosociety.org
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Individual and Gift Subscriptions
Q: I just subscribed to Mercury, or my subscription is active. Can I get a refund? What is the deadline?
A: Yes, anyone who subscribed and paid by credit card can request a refund based on how many months of your subscription is left. We will issue prorated refunds up through March 31, 2025 with an email request sent to mercury@astrosociety.org. However, should you wish to contribute your remaining amount as a donation to the ASP, we thank you for your continued support of the ASP programs.
Q: I created an account in order to access Mercury. Is my information no longer available?
A: Because renewals are no longer available, account information is no longer required. If you are an individual who paid for your subscription by credit card and wish to receive a refund for the remainder of your subscription, you must contact us to receive a prorated refund. Please email your request to mercury@astrosociety.org.
Q: What is the deadline to request a refund if I paid by credit card?
A: The last date for refunds by credit card is March 31st. Please contact us by email at mercury@astrosociety.org to request a prorated refund.
Q: I have a gift or complimentary membership to Mercury already. Do I need to do anything?
A: There is nothing you need to do to continue enjoying Mercury articles on the current website, or within the archival magazine. Access is now fully open to all.
Q: Will the digital issues produced between 2007 and 2023 still be accessible?
A: Yes, access to the PDF files of each issue will be open to all. In fact, we will be offering a bonus of the ability to search the files coming in April!
Institutional Subscriptions
Q: What is the refund policy for Institutional Subscriptions?
A: We are offering a blanket percentage refund to each Institutional account with the ASP. Payment will be automatically refunded by check. If you require a credit card reimbursement or wire transfer, please contact mercury@astrosociety.org.
If you work with an agency and payment goes through your agency (like EBSCO), then your reimbursements will go through your agency.
Q: Is an access account required to view Mercury, even when it is open to the public?
A: Mercury is a live website, open to all at all times. No IP address authentication is required. Your users should have no problem accessing all content on the website at any time. The IP addresses we had on file will no longer be necessary after March 19th, 2025.
Q: Will Mercury have any new content?
A: Beginning March 28th, 2025, the Mercury online magazine will be a static website offering all of the content between 2007 and March 2025. Are most recent articles were posted through March 19th.
Authors:
Q: I was a contributing author for Mercury and am interested in contacting the ASP. Who should I contact?
A: Please feel free to send your emails or requests to editor@astrosociety.org
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These terms of service were originally published on the Mercury website. Please note that they may change on March 27th. 2025 or sooner as new subscriptions are no longer available. All current subscribers will receive an email on March 19, 2025 around the current status of the magazine.
