Amateurs astronomers - wasting time?

Only a relatively small number of amateur astronomers are in a
position to contribute data of value to the wider astronomical
community on a regular basis. This makes it all the more important
that they are steered into "useful" projects rather than allowing them
needlessly to duplicate the work of others.



For example I have a particular interest in double stars. It seems to
me that the direct measurement of double stars wider apart than 5 arc
seconds has now been rendered obsolete. A recent experiment proved
conclusively that by data mining the new generation of astronomical
catalogues it was possible to obtain up-to-date results for just over
1000 neglected doubles in a single day.



Most double stars change their separation and position angle extremely
slowly and the measurement of the same star by multiple observers, on
even a monthly basis, has no scientific merit except perhaps as a
training aid for a new observer wanting to gain experience of the
techniques required to obtain accurate results.



It would be far more useful for the newcomer to be guided towards an
area where they could make a genuine contribution – hunting for
missing doubles comes to mind – rather than permitting them to waste
their time, energy and enthusiasm reproducing the work of others.