On Feb 5, 8:41 pm, jwarner1 wrote:
"Ken S. Tucker" wrote:
I've read how serious amateurs study data from advanced
instruments and find new things, obviously many serious
amateurs are superior to the average pro astronomer,
expecially if the pro is cherry picking for a science paper.
OTOH I also read some data from observations is held in
secret for 1 year so the pros have first crack at writing up
'a paper'.
Seems like a nutty system, especially when it's the tax-
payer paying for the instrument.
What gives?
Ken

The same thing happens in clubs. Lots of bridges to nowhere which just a

few key club members wind up prospering from with sole-use contracts?
Contracts? Assosications? Contracts and associations with WHO!?
... smiling all the way. Denial denial denial...

If I was 'pro' I'd make photo's available as 'raw data', and if
another
pro or amateur did something with it then I still get a fair amount of
credit for making the data happen.
IOW's i'm pro science, and encouraging amateurs is a good thing,
for astronomy.
Ken