"username" e-mail@adress wrote in message
...
hi,

short introduction: I am about to pick up my astronomy hobby again (left
it
about 15 years ago, when I went to university to study math). Hopefully my
scope will be here within a week, and I am really looking forward to it:
stugying mars of course, but in general, I look forward to a winter full
of
dark crisp skies.

I have a phd in math, but I am not a science professional (left university
after I got my phd, now I work for a large bank). I enjoy my current work
very much, but I never lost my interest in science (in fact, I published
an
article on chromosome structures, together with my twin brother, in
"Science" last year). I enjoy astronomy as a hobby as it is abstract and
so
close to real science.

My question: are amateur astronomers actually contributing to science
(besides shooting nice images!), and if so, how? Perhaps a FAQ, but I am
interested, as I know from experience, that my hobbies tend to get pretty
serious over time :-)

Does it really matter if amateurs are contributing to science?
Speaking solely for myself, the hobby is both recreational and
spiritual. Star-gazing is how I relax, pause to ponder and meditate.
Contributing to science sounds like work, which is decidedly not
recreational.

The only contribution most amateurs make is becoming scientifically
literate citizens, less prone to fall for pseudo-scientific clap-trap.

Just MHO.

Cheers,
Larry G.