Quote:
Originally Posted by higginsdj
Hi all,
I'm researching a presentation I am planning to give to next years NACAA on collaborative work between Amateur and Pro Astronomers. I'm not looking for insights as such but I am interested to hear from people as to why amateurs in general can 'talk the talk' but just do not collaborate with the Pros'
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Hi David,
It’s really pleasing to see you raise the ProAm issue and your intention to contribute to NACAA. Having been involved with NACAA for many years and being on the Local Organising Committee for the 2008 convention in Sydney it is near and dear to my heart. I think the reason why amateurs don’t seem to collaborate with the pros is that no one is promoting how this is done or offering training and encouragement. NACAA is an ideal organization to address this issue.
Alex, I think you are holding the wrong end of the stick. The secret to collaborating with professionals is to work within your limits and look to making contributions in areas you feel comfortable with and most importantly ENJOY.
ProAm does not necessarily mean multi $10,000 computer controlled, all singing and dancing, observatories with 20” telescopes. Neither is it necessary to even have CCD capabilities. The 1000’s of amateurs across the world that contribute variable star observations to the AAVSO don’t have or are expected to have university degrees.
Here’s a few examples, starting the list with naked eye activities:
1) Meteor shower monitoring.
2) Aurora (for those lucky to live that far south)
Binocular:
3) Novae Patrol (visual or standard camera).
4) Bright Variable stars (good for beginners).
Telescope – visual or CCD/photographic
5) variable stars
6) Supernovae patrol
7) Transient Lunar phenomena
8) Lunar Occultations and grazes.
9) Comet monitoring
10) Comet hunting
11) Minor planet occultations ($100 webcams are making tremendous contributions here – path predictions are available through the RASNZ)
It is worthwhile noting even though it is true the professional high speed CCD, all sky surveys are now limiting the amateur’s abilities for discovery we are blessed with living in the Southern Hemisphere. Down here the professional surveys are still limited and like us are dictated to by the weather. So when they are clouded out, you never know your luck. Also don’t forget amateurs looking for comets can search closer to the Sun (lower in the twilight) than the professionals are willing to do or are capable of (I’m not counting SOHO here). Here are just a few amateur contributions:
• Bill Liller, in South America, has made dozens of novae and variable star discoveries using what I believe is a normal camera with 70mm lens.
• Bob Evans continues to discover supernovae visually.
• Terry Lovejoy’s latest comet discovery. OK it was with CCD but still an amateur effort.
• It’s only been a few years since Bill Bradfield discovered his last comet (visually)
• Variable stars are an obvious area for contributions. There are no shortage of ProAm bodies such as the RASNZ and AAVSO that will supply lists of stars of interest and charts for monitoring.
• Lunar and minor planet occultations. This is perhaps not as high profile as those above, but there are many amateurs doing this work in Aust and NZ.
Although it is true that in areas 3, 6 & 10 (above) the amateur may eventually be put out of business, the remaining fields will continue to remain open to the dedicated unpaid astronomer.
(so endth the sermon)
Regards to all
Glenn