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.