What do you do in astronomy

[higginsdj]

Just want to glean a few stats about what people are CURRENTLY doing in the field of astronomy. If none of the catagories fit you then please post some comments. (Multiple selections are allowed)

Edit: Some clarifications....
'Pretty Pictures' means taking Astronomical Images for the purposes of producing a beautiful picture ie for it's aesthetic qualities.
'Serious' does NOT pertain to scientific contribution but states that you perform the action on a regular rather than casual or ad hoc basis.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Pretty Pictures,
Just 'Touring' the Night Sky,
Public Outreach.

That's all for me

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Hey Dave, I've looked carefully but none of those options seem to be right for me - I think you're missing the "Planetary Imager" category :-)

regards, Bird

[higginsdj]

Hi Bird,

Yep - good point. I take it you mean Planetary monitoring type activities as imaging alone could come under 'Pretty Pictures'

Cheers

[ving (David)]

lol david, your view on pics is the same as mine obviously
might stir up some tho with that sort of throw-away comment

i put all the professional stuff hehehe!!!
just kidding

[ispom]

- Just 'Touring' the night sky
- 'Pretty Pictures'
- Armchair astronomer

but one essential point lacks:
posting in astro forums

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

I think you're exploring an important topic here, David, and trying to put your finger on the change that has been happening to amateur astronomy over the last two decades. From the early results I can see most people are there to enjoy the view - I tend to think of them as 'tourists' (it's just that their body stays in the same place while the view changes around them).

For myself I do a lot of outreach and education, indeed one of my jobs is working at the local planetarium, so education has steered a large part of my activities over the years. I also like to build telescopes, I don't think you have that option up there either? Without those interested in the instrumentation we wouldn't be able to do some of what we do.

I also feel that the rapid change to electronic imaging is slowing some people down i.e. the will is there but trying to work out how to make it all work can be a long process. Granted that meteor and variable star work uses the naked eye, for some people the electronica out there is very daunting.

[higginsdj]

Originally Posted by ispom

- Just 'Touring' the night sky
- 'Pretty Pictures'
- Armchair astronomer

but one essential point lacks:
posting in astro forums

Doesn't that come under Armchair Astronomer

Cheers

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Originally Posted by higginsdj

Hi Bird,

Yep - good point. I take it you mean Planetary monitoring type activities as imaging alone could come under 'Pretty Pictures'

Cheers

Yeah, a lot of images which started out as pretty pictures are now showing up in material put forward for publication in journals etc by planetary atmospherics / dynamics types, made easier by the image databases around the place, eg ALPO.

With that potential use in mind it seems important (to me) to get images that are more realistic than pretty :-)

cheers, Bird

[mickoking]

I just look clear skies to you all.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Blue Skies

.... I also like to build telescopes, I don't think you have that option up there either? Without those interested in the instrumentation we wouldn't be able to do some of what we do.

Cheers for the poll Dave, I've often wondered what the 'make-up' of the Astro community is myself.

I would also like to put my hand up as a glass-pusher!
Shame there wasn't an option for ATM, would have been interesting to see what percentage make some of their own gear.

Simo

[gary]

Hi David,

If there had been a selection for 'astronomical equipment manufacturer'
or 'engineering', I would have checked it,

Our Argo Navis telescope computer is in use by both amateurs and professionals
around the world and has been used to facilitate many of the activities you
outline above - from public outreach down to occultations.

Wildcard Innovations also contributed to the development of some of the software
used on the IRIS2 infrared imager and spectrograph for the AAO.

IRIS2 won the AAO the Institute of Engineers Engineering Bradfield Award
for outstanding engineering achievement in 2002 - the highest engineering
award in NSW. It also went on to win an Engineering Excellence National Award.
All testimony to the talent and skills of the many people that designed and built it.

Ever since Galileo crafted his first telescope and pointed it at the Moon,
a great deal of astronomy starts with the people who make the instruments.
These then make observation, measurement and analysis possible.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[Rodstar (Rod)]

If this "survey" is intended to be used for a research purpose, there are unfortunately too many undefined terms for it to be of any use.

Before I voted I took the term "pretty pictures" to mean that the voter was indicating they liked looking at pretty astronomical images, such as visiting the Hubble website. If you are intending to include imaging in that category, the term is not only confusing, but unfortunately very value-laden.

And then there is the term, "serious". What does this mean? There are plenty of amateurs who take themselves very seriously, but who are not contributing a jot or tittle to science. Is a person only serious when they take astrometric measurements in sub-zero temperatures? When does a person who takes an interest in comet hunting convert from being non-serious to serious?

And then there is the problem, as many people have noted, that there are a host of very significant aspects of our Noble Interest which are entirely omitted, such as ATM-ing or double star observing.

Oftentimes the questions that one asks reveal more about the questioner than about those being surveyed.

PS. I apologise in advance if this post is a tad narky. I might just duck down the road and grab a few cold ones. I had better check that thread on favourite beers to see what surveyed as the most popular beer!

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I think I will join Rodstar for that "cold one"...

I just like looking up and sharing the night sky with other people who want to look up...

[Terry B]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

I think I will join Rodstar for that "cold one"...

I just like looking up and sharing the night sky with other people who want to look up...

But it's not Friday yet

[Tamtarn]

Very well put Rod. I agree entirely and is probably the reason why I have not voted as yet, like many others it seems.

Enjoy the cold one.

David

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Scott and David, I have the "cold one" at hand now....a long neck of Tooheys Old. Ahhhhh....suddenly everything is looking much better.

Terry, I have an annual holiday tomorrow, so let the long weekend roll on!!!

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

One of my major interests in amateur astronomy is the ..... hardware. I have an innate appreciation for the design and manufacturing execution of nice instruments, and enjoy owning and using them for the purpose they were designed. After talking with lots of people at various star parties I'm not alone. I'd like to get more over time, and gradually swap out what I have for the highest quality I can afford.

Just another category I guess.

Don't get me wrong...I really enjoy the view too.

Cheers
Chris

[higginsdj]

Hi all,

It's not intended for a scientific research paper but to guage what people are doing. Yes, some of the definitions could have been worded more precisely but I am quite happy for people to use their own interpretation/common sense.

Those who do something seriously know they are - those who have to ask probably aren't! But the intent is that serious does NOT relate to science contribution as such but an indication that they don't do it on an adhoc or casual basis.

Yes some areas were missed but as I said - if I missed it then post it! You may have guaged that that poll was biased toward the observing side of things.

Cheers

[higginsdj]

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Oftentimes the questions that one asks reveal more about the questioner than about those being surveyed.

And what does it reveal about me (probably all true)

Cheers