Capabilities of the Amateur-Science Community
Abstract
Devoted non-professional astronomers can offer useful service to researchers by collecting data that can’t be fit into funded observing programs, pursuing low-probability-of-success projects, stretching the limits of commercial technology, and mentoring the next generation of scientists. These individuals are performing photometry of stars and asteroids, astrometry of visual binary systems, and spectroscopy of variable stars. This report will illustrate some of the activities being done by the small-telescope research community-of-practice, and offer suggestions on how to take advantage of their capabilities and enthusiasm.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #228
- Pub Date:
- June 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AAS...22810603B