The age of astronomy-related organizations

The age of currently active astronomy-related organizations is investigated from comprehensive and up-to-date samples. Results for professional instit utions, associations, planetariums, and public observatories are commented, as well as specific distributions for astronomy-related publishers and sof tware producers. Some events had a clear impact on the rate of foundation of astronomy-relat ed organizations, such as World War I and II, the beginning of space explor ation and the landing of man on the Moon, but not all of them affected in t he same way Western Europe and North America. It is still premature to asse ss the impact of the end of the Cold War. A category such as the software p roducers would of course not exist nor prosper without the advent of the co mputer age and the subsequent electronic networking of the planet. Other as pects are discussed in the paper.