The shrinking role of the Amateur Astronomer

I have been active in casual astronomy for many years using 9X63
binoculars. However I have always promised myself a proper telescope
which I hope to order in the future, mostly for personal observations
and enjoyment.

However I cannot fail from reaching the conclusion that from the 60's
the role of the amateur astronomer has become a more and more minor
role. With the event of NEAT and LINEAR, the liklihood of amateur
discovering future comets has been severely reduced.

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

On 1 Nov 2003 02:16:31 -0800, (Bernie) wrote:

I have been active in casual astronomy for many years using 9X63
binoculars. However I have always promised myself a proper telescope
which I hope to order in the future, mostly for personal observations
and enjoyment.

However I cannot fail from reaching the conclusion that from the 60's
the role of the amateur astronomer has become a more and more minor
role. With the event of NEAT and LINEAR, the liklihood of amateur
discovering future comets has been severely reduced.

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

There are areas where the amateur can be useful and I'm sure others
will describe them better than I can.

However, one role that is often overlooked is that of ambassador to
the public. With the advent of high quality imaging and some
spectacular pictures of all manner of astronomical subject, it's
easier to spark a non-astronomers interest in the subject. This
cannot be a bad thing.

--
Pete Lawrence
http://www.pbl33.co.uk

Bernie wrote:
What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

In addition to Pete's response:

* Occultation timing
* Variable star observation
* Supernova search

Best,
Stephen

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"Pete Lawrence" wrote in message
However, one role that is often overlooked is that of ambassador to
the public. With the advent of high quality imaging and some
spectacular pictures of all manner of astronomical subject, it's
easier to spark a non-astronomers interest in the subject. This
cannot be a bad thing.


On the 29th the Sun was looking particularly spectacular with all the
spots so I did a bit of "sidewalk astronomy" in Keswick. This was the
first time I had tried this without the "protection" of the rest of the
Astro
Soc. I set up outside the theatre for a couple of hours and showed
passers by the spots with my filtered 80mm refractor. I explained what
was happening on and suggested that there was a chance of an aurora
later.Had to dodge the clouds but had a couple of dozen punters (young
and old). All were impressed without exception. I would estimate about
half had heard there was something going on.

Robin

On 1 Nov 2003 02:16:31 -0800, (Bernie) wrote:

I have been active in casual astronomy for many years using 9X63
binoculars. However I have always promised myself a proper telescope
which I hope to order in the future, mostly for personal observations
and enjoyment.

However I cannot fail from reaching the conclusion that from the 60's
the role of the amateur astronomer has become a more and more minor
role. With the event of NEAT and LINEAR, the liklihood of amateur
discovering future comets has been severely reduced.

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

Well it does depend on how much you want to spend, and how much time
you are able to devote to it. The automated NEAT and LINEAR telescopes
are optimised for searching out near-earth asteroids and do not cover
the whole sky. Big long-period comets (like Hale-Bopp) can first
appear anywhere in the sky so you still have a chance of discovering
the next one. New meteor radiants are still being discovered due to
the dedication of amateur observers. In astronomy a single observation
is not nearly so valuable as systematic observations (of just about
anything) sustained over a long perod of time.

To partake in supernova or asteroid searching you really need a good
GOTO telescope (of large enough aperture to take pics of faint objects
rapidly), the CCD camera of course, and the ancilliary computer
hardware to process the data. If you can demonstrate your ability to
determine the position of asteroids to the required (astrometric)
accuracy in order to calculate orbital elements, then you will be
rewarded with the allocation of an observatory number by the MPC. That
would definitely keep you busy fulfilling requests for follow-up
observations of newly discovered objects.

For the purely observational astronomer then yes, things are a bit
more limited. CCD cameras have taken over the role of many tasks that
were once done by eye or using photographs. Amateurs are even getting
into spectroscopic observations now - again due to sensitivity of the
CCD camera (have a look around Maurice Gavin's website).

There is nothing wrong with being an 'Astronomical Tourist' though!
Lots of things to see on your journey and why not take a few photos
along the way? Frame a few, hang them on the wall, always an
interesting talking-point for visitors.

ChrisH



UK Astro Ads: http://www.UKAstroAds.co.uk

What you describe, Bernie, is merely one aspect of the diminution,
dismissal, deprecation and degradation of the role of the amateur in modern
society.

This applies, alas, in so many fields.
From many more, I select three examples at random :-

1. In science - where it is assumed that the only significant scientific
research is that which commands massive financial grants and gargantuan
plant and equipment. It is said for example that we have 'opted out of the
space race' through lack of government funding.
What nonsense! The fact is that most of what we know about the nature of
space (and time) has cost us only two professorial salaries (those of
Hawkins and Penrose).

2. In sport - where the media is exclusively concerned with spectacular
events involving celebrities who command astronomical salaries, and who are
traded for telephone-number sums as if they were goods and chattels. All we
see on TV screens is an unholy marriage of high finance and showbiz, falsely
masquerading under the alias of 'sport'. *True* sport - by which I
understand such events as cricket on the village green, an afternoon of
tennis with convivial friends, the local pubs' darts match etc is is not
merely ignored, it is actually discouraged. As when its governors, to their
everlasting shape in the 50's declared the Wimbledon tournament - until
then a strictly amateur event - open only to so-called 'professionals'. Thus
depriving at a stroke the amateur tennis player of a goal of excellence to
strive at.

3. In music - which is rapidly going the same way as sport, with the
demise of home music making round the cottage piano, and the near
extinction of that endangered species - the amateur string quartet. Instead
we seem to prefer - like couch potatoes -to watch hypnotically as
professionals perform pagannenical musical acrobatics as as if they were
circus clowns.

'Floreat Amatandum!'

Hi Bernie, all,
"Bernie" wrote in message
om...

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

Why bother Bernie, surely the fact that YOU can look up to the heavens and
see so much wonderment is enough to keep you going for a very long time and
who knows, one day, just maybe you will see something to share with
others...................cheers and good observing.............Ken.


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"Ronald Alpiar" wrote in message ...

What you describe, Bernie, is merely one aspect of the diminution,
dismissal, deprecation and degradation of the role of the amateur in modern
society.

snip

Instead we seem to prefer - like couch potatoes -to watch hypnotically as
professionals perform pagannenical musical acrobatics as as if they were
circus clowns.


Nicely put, but reading between the lines, I think you are far too
sympathetic to the 'entertainment' professional's cause. Why should a
few minutes of activity in a studio make a pop 'star' worth millions?
While a lifetime of any 'normal' activity makes one worth bugger-all?
We do indeed live in very strange times when a 'star' gives his, or
her, time 'free' to raise funds (from the public) for worthy causes.
Global insanity is surely near at such 'glorious' moments.

Did you mean "Paganini" or "pagan"?

Perhaps Yngwie Malmsteen comes to mind with the former. I can't speak
for the latter. ;-)


Chris.B

(Bernie) wrote:

However I cannot fail from reaching the conclusion that from the 60's
the role of the amateur astronomer has become a more and more minor
role. With the event of NEAT and LINEAR, the liklihood of amateur
discovering future comets has been severely reduced.

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

Haven't you got this all arse about face?

Flamsteed was about the first professional astronomer - and he was
paid a totally inadequate amount, given the job description of an
Astronomer Royal. Until then the only way to pay for astronomy was to
use the money from the day job or be immensely rich. Kepler was paid
by Tycho from Tycho's private funds - but that stopped when Tycho
died, and he sustained himself with astrology.

Rather than lament the decline of the amateur should'nt we celebrate
the rise of the professional?

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

"Bernie" wrote in message
om...
I have been active in casual astronomy for many years using 9X63
binoculars. However I have always promised myself a proper telescope
which I hope to order in the future, mostly for personal observations
and enjoyment.

However I cannot fail from reaching the conclusion that from the 60's
the role of the amateur astronomer has become a more and more minor
role. With the event of NEAT and LINEAR, the liklihood of amateur
discovering future comets has been severely reduced.

What aspects of astronomy do you consider to be still open, whereby an
amateur astronomer may still take part in serious astronomical
research?

I actually disagree in some respects.
For the wealthier amateur, which the resources to spend on computerised
'scopes and ccd detectors, there's an increased role in supernova searches,
comet detection etc. Looking at some of the pictures I see on the web these
days, the quality of images taken with a 12" 'scope with electronic
detectors rivals anything I saw in the 70s taken with large professional
telescopes with film.

I just wish I could afford it myself!



Dave