Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy is a
Amateur astronomers do not use the field of astronomy as their primary source of income or support, and usually have no professional degree in astrophysics or advanced academic training in the subject. Most amateurs are hobbyists, while others have a high degree of experience in astronomy and may often assist and work alongside professional astronomers.[8] Many astronomers have studied the sky throughout history in an amateur framework; however, since the beginning of the twentieth century, professional astronomy has become an activity clearly distinguished from amateur astronomy and associated activities.[9]
Amateur astronomers typically view the sky at night, when most celestial objects and astronomical events are visible, but others observe during the daytime by viewing the
Objectives
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2017) |
Collectively, amateur astronomers observe a variety of celestial objects and
Most amateur astronomers work at visible
Common tools
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2017) |
Amateur astronomers use a range of instruments to study the sky, depending on a combination of their interests and resources. Methods include simply looking at the night sky with the naked eye, using binoculars, and using a variety of optical telescopes of varying power and quality, as well as additional sophisticated equipment, such as cameras, to study light from the sky in both the visual and non-visual parts of the spectrum. To further improve studying the visual and non-visual part of the spectrum, amateur astronomers go to rural areas[12] to get away from light pollution. Commercial telescopes are available, new and used, but it is also common for amateur astronomers to build (or commission the building of) their own custom telescopes. Some people even focus on amateur telescope making as their primary interest within the hobby of amateur astronomy.
Although specialized and experienced amateur astronomers tend to acquire more specialized and more powerful equipment over time, relatively simple equipment is often preferred for certain tasks. Binoculars, for instance, although generally of lower power than the majority of telescopes, also tend to provide a wider field of view, which is preferable for looking at some objects in the night sky. Recent models of iPhones have introduced a “night mode[13]” option when taking pictures as well, that allows you to increase exposure, which is a period of time the picture is being taken for. This optimizes focus on light in the frame which is why it is used primarily at night.
Amateur astronomers also use star charts that, depending on experience and intentions, may range from simple planispheres through to detailed charts of very specific areas of the night sky. A range of astronomy software is available and used by amateur astronomers, including software that generates maps of the sky, software to assist with astrophotography, observation scheduling software, and software to perform various calculations pertaining to astronomical phenomena.
Amateur astronomers often like to keep records of their observations, which usually takes the form of an observing log. Observing logs typically record details about which objects were observed and when, as well as describing the details that were seen. Sketching is sometimes used within logs, and photographic records of observations have also been used in recent times. The information gathered is used to help studies and interactions between amateur astronomers in yearly gatherings. Although not professional information or credible, it is a way for the hobby lovers to share their new sightings and experiences.
The popularity of imaging among amateurs has led to large numbers of web sites being written by individuals about their images and equipment. Much of the social interaction of amateur astronomy occurs on mailing lists or discussion groups. Discussion group servers host numerous astronomy lists. A great deal of the commerce of amateur astronomy, the buying and selling of equipment, occurs online. Many amateurs use online tools to plan their nightly observing sessions, using tools such as the Clear Sky Chart.
Common techniques
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2017) |
While a number of interesting celestial objects are readily identified by the naked eye, sometimes with the aid of a star chart, many others are so faint or inconspicuous that technical means are necessary to locate them. Although many methods are used in amateur astronomy, most are variations of a few specific techniques.[according to whom?]
Star hopping
Star hopping is a method often used by amateur astronomers with low-tech equipment such as binoculars or a manually driven telescope. It involves the use of maps (or memory) to locate known landmark stars, and "hopping" between them, often with the aid of a finderscope. Because of its simplicity, star hopping is a very common method for finding objects that are close to naked-eye stars.
More advanced methods of locating objects in the sky include telescope mounts with setting circles, which assist with pointing telescopes to positions in the sky that are known to contain objects of interest, and GOTO telescopes, which are fully automated telescopes that are capable of locating objects on demand (having first been calibrated).
Mobile apps
The advent of
Setting circles
Setting circles are
To find a celestial object in a telescope equipped with a DSC computer, one does not need to look up the specific RA and Dec coordinates in a book or other resource, and then adjust the telescope to those numerical readings. Rather, the object is chosen from the electronic database, which causes distance values and arrow markers to appear in the display that indicate the distance and direction to move the telescope. The telescope is moved until the two angular distance values reach zero, indicating that the telescope is properly aligned. When both the RA and Dec axes are thus "zeroed out", the object should be in the eyepiece. Many DSCs, like go-to systems, can also work in conjunction with laptop sky programs.[citation needed]
Computerized systems provide the further advantage of computing coordinate precession. Traditional printed sources are subtitled by the epoch year, which refers to the positions of celestial objects at a given time to the nearest year (e.g., J2005, J2007). Most such printed sources have been updated for intervals of only about every fifty years (e.g., J1900, J1950, J2000). Computerized sources, on the other hand, are able to calculate the right ascension and declination of the "epoch of date" to the exact instant of observation.[17]
GoTo telescopes
GOTO telescopes have become more popular since the 1980s as technology has improved and prices have been reduced. With these computer-driven telescopes, the user typically enters the name of the item of interest and the mechanics of the telescope point the telescope towards that item automatically. They have several notable advantages for amateur astronomers intent on research. For example, GOTO telescopes tend to be faster for locating items of interest than star hopping, allowing more time for studying of the object. GOTO also allows manufacturers to add equatorial tracking to mechanically simpler alt-azimuth telescope mounts, allowing them to produce an overall less expensive product. GOTO telescopes usually have to be calibrated using alignment stars in order to provide accurate tracking and positioning. However, several telescope manufacturers have recently developed telescope systems that are calibrated with the use of built-in GPS, decreasing the time it takes to set up a telescope at the start of an observing session.
Remote-controlled telescopes
With the development of fast Internet in the last part of the 20th century along with advances in computer controlled telescope mounts and CCD cameras "Remote Telescope" astronomy is now a viable means for amateur astronomers not aligned with major telescope facilities to partake in research and deep sky imaging. This enables anyone to control a telescope a great distance away in a dark location. The observer can image through the telescope using CCD cameras. The digital data collected by the telescope is then transmitted and displayed to the user by means of the Internet. An example of a digital remote telescope operation for public use via the Internet is the
Imaging techniques
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2013) |
Amateur astronomers engage in many imaging techniques including
Scientific research
Scientific
The majority of scientific contributions by amateur astronomers are in the area of data collection. In particular, this applies where large numbers of amateur astronomers with small telescopes are more effective than the relatively small number of large telescopes that are available to professional astronomers. Several organizations, such as the American Association of Variable Star Observers and the British Astronomical Association, exist to help coordinate these contributions.
Amateur astronomers often contribute toward activities such as monitoring the changes in brightness of
In the past and present, amateur astronomers have played a major role in discovering new
Societies
There are a large number of amateur
Notable amateur astronomers
- George Alcock, discovered several comets and novae.
- Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995 with unemployed PhD physicist Alan Hale.
- Robert Burnham Jr. (1931–1993), author of the Celestial Handbook.
- Andrew Ainslie Common (1841–1903), built his own very large reflecting telescopes and demonstrated that photography could record astronomical features invisible to the human eye.
- Robert E. Cox (1917–1989) who conducted the "Gleanings for ATMs" column in Sky & Telescope magazine for 21 years.
- John Dobson (1915–2014), whose name is associated with the Dobsonian telescope.
- Robert Owen Evans (1937-2022) was an amateur astronomer who currently holds the all-time record for visual discoveries of supernovae.
- variable stars.
- variable stars.
- variable stars.
- Will Hay, the famous comedian and actor, who discovered a white spot on Saturn.
- Walter Scott Houston (1912–1993) who wrote the "Deep-Sky Wonders" column in Sky & Telescope magazine for almost 50 years.
- Albert G. Ingalls (1888–1958), editor of Amateur Telescope Making, Vols. 1–3 and "The Amateur Scientist".
- Peter Jalowiczor (born in 1966) discovered four exoplanets.
- Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, the most for any individual.
- Terry Lovejoy discovered five comets in the 21st century and developed modifications to DSLR cameras for astrophotography.
- Sir Patrick Moore (1923–2012), presenter of the BBC's long-running The Sky at Night and author of many books on astronomy.
- Leslie Peltier (1900–1980), a prolific discoverer of comets and well-known observer of variable stars.
- John M. Pierce (1886–1958) was one of the founders of the Springfield Telescope Makers.
- Russell W. Porter (1871–1949) founded Stellafane and has been referred to as the "founder".
- Grote Reber (1911–2002), pioneer of radio astronomy constructing the first purpose built radio telescope and conducted the first sky survey in the radio frequency.
- Isaac Roberts (1829–1904), early experimenter in astronomical photography.
Discoveries with major contributions by amateur astronomers
- Cygnus A (1939) is a radio galaxy and one of the strongest radio sources on the sky.
- Dramatic period decrease in AAVSOobservations (1995).
- McNeil's Nebula (2004) is a variable nebula.
- XO-1b (2006) is an exoplanet.
- Tidal streams around NGC 5907 (2008).
- Voorwerpjes (2009) is a type of quasar ionization echo.
- Pea Galaxies (2009) are a type of galaxy.
- Most recent (2010) outburst of U Scorpii.
- Kronberger 61 (2011) is a planetary nebula.
- DRAGNs(Double Radio-source Associated with Galactic Nucleus).
- 2011 HM102 (2013) is a Neptune Trojan.
- PH1b (2013) is an extrasolar planet in a circumbinary orbit in a quadruple star system.
- PH2b(2013) is an extrasolar gas giant planet located in its parent star's habitable zone.
- J1649+2635 (2014) is a spiral galaxy containing contain DRAGNs (Double Radio-source Associated with Galactic Nucleus).
- Yellowballs (2015)[20] are a type of compact star-forming region.
- 9Spitch(2015) is a distant gravitationally lensed galaxy with high star-forming rate.
- NGC 253-dw2 (2016) is a dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy candidate undergoing tidal disruption around the nearby galaxy NGC 253. The galaxy was discovered by an amateur astronomer with a small-aperture amateur telescope.
- KIC 8462852 (2016) is an F-type star showing unusual dimming events.
- HD 74389 (2016) contains a debris disk. It is the first debris disk discovered around a star with a companion white dwarf.
- AWI0005x3s(2016) is the oldest M-dwarf with a debris disk detected in a moving group at the time of the discovery.
- PSR J1913+1102 (2016)[21] is a binary neutron star with the highest total mass at the time of the discovery.
- Donatiello I (2016) a nearby spheroidal dwarf galaxy discovered by the Italian amateur astronomer Giuseppe Donatiello. It is also the first galaxy to be named after an amateur astronomer.
- Transiting Exocomets (2017) are comets in an extrasolar system blocking some of the starlight while transiting in front of the extra-solar star.
- K2-138 (2018) is a planetary system with five confirmed planets in an unbroken 3:2-resonance chain.
- Supernova 2016gkg (2018) was observed by an amateur astronomer shortly after it began to erupt.
- PSR J1744−7619 (2018)[22] is the first Pulsar to be detected only in gamma-rays and not in radio-waves.
- STEVE(2018) is an atmospheric phenomenon.
- K2-288Bb (2019) is an extrasolar planet in the habitable zone around a M-star, which belongs to a binary system.
- LSPM J0207+3331 (2019) is an old white dwarf containing a debris disk with two components.
- Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov (2019) is the first interstellar comet.
- Kojima-1Lb (confirmed in 2019) is a Neptune-sized exoplanet discovered by an amateur astronomer with the microlensing method. Kojima-1 is the brightest microlensing host discovered.[23]
- WISE2150-7520AB (2019/2020) is a pair of brown dwarfs with the lowest binding energy at a total mass smaller than 0.1 solar masses not associated with a young cluster.[24]
- GJ 3470 c (2020) is the first exoplanet candidate completely discovered by amateurs. Unlike Peter Jalowiczor, Kojima-1Lb and XO-1b, GJ 3470 c was fully discovered by an amateur in a project led by amateur astronomers.[25]
- Pisces VII/Triangulum IIII (Psc VIII/Tri III) is an ultrafaint dwarf galaxy in Messier 31 system, a possible satellite of Messier 33. It is the second discovery credited to the Italian amateur astronomer Giuseppe Donatiello, already discoverer of the dwarf galaxy Donatiello I. [26]
- Donatiello II, Donatiello III and Donatiello IV, three new satellites of the nearby galaxy NGC 253, discovered in 2021 by the Italian amateur astronomer Giuseppe Donatiello. With these three new dwarf galaxies, Donatiello I and Pisces VII, his total discoveries in this topic are five. [27]
- Pegasus V/Andromeda XXXIV (Peg V/And XXXIV) an ultrafaint dwarf in the constellation of Pegasus located ~260 kpc from Messier 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) in the outskirts of its halo. Peg V was initially identified in the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys by the Italian amateur astronomer Giuseppe Donatiello.[28] [29]
Prizes recognizing amateur astronomers
- Amateur Achievement Award of Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award
See also
- Astronomical object
- Caldwell catalogue A list of astronomical objects for observation by amateur astronomers compiled by Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore.
- Clear Sky Chart Weather forecasts designed for amateur astronomers.
- List of astronomical societies
- List of telescope parts and construction
- Messier catalogue A set of astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in 1771, which is still used by many amateurs as an observing list.
- Observation
- Observational astronomy
- School Astronomical Olympiad by Correspondence
- Sidewalk astronomy
- Skygazing
- Star party
References
- ^ "American Association of Variable Star Observers : The AAVSO Research Portal". Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ISBN 90-277-0885-1.
- ISBN 978-3-642-22839-1.
- ^ a b "International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) : Introduction to Observing Occultations". Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-486-15216-5.
- ^
ISBN 978-3-540-50230-2.
- ^
Zuckerman, Ben; Malkan, Matthew A. (1996). The Origin and Evolution of the Universe. ISBN 0-7637-0030-4.
- ^ "Sky & Telescope : Pro-Am Collaboration". Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^
Meadows, A.J. (1988). Dunlop, Storm; Gerbaldi, Michèle (eds.). Stargazers : The Contribution of Amateurs to Astronomy : Twentieth-Century Amateur Astronomers. Springer-Verlag. p. 20. ISBN 978-3-540-50230-2.
- ^
Motta, M. (2006). "Contributions of Amateur Astronomy to Education". Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. 35 (1): 257. Bibcode:2006JAVSO..35..257M.
- ^ "Beneath the Milky Way". European Southern Observatory. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Agency, Canadian Space (July 16, 2019). "Stargazing tips". Canadian Space Agency. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Odenwald, Sten. “A Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography - NASA Ebook.” Stargazers Lounge, 3 Dec. 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Eaton, Kit (February 27, 2013). "Amateur Stargazing With a GPS Tour Guide (Published 2013)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Turn Your Smartphone into an Astronomy Toolbox with Mobile Apps". Space.com. June 2, 2017. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Daylight Polar Alignment Made Easy". Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ "Argo Navis : User Manual 10" (PDF). p. 93. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Remote Observatories". www.nmskies.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ Maury, Alain. "SPACE : A cost effective solution for your observatory" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
- S2CID 119196894.
- ^ "Neutron stars on the home PC". www.mpg.de. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ "Einstein@Home discovers first millisecond pulsar visible only in gamma rays". www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
- S2CID 207863267.
- ^ "The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopaedia — GJ 3470 c". Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia. November 25, 1995. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- .
- S2CID 235446890.
- hdl:10261/296825. Archivedfrom the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ "Gemini North Spies Ultra-Faint Fossil Galaxy Discovered on Outskirts of Andromeda - NSF's NOIRLab facilities reveal a relict of the earliest galaxies". Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-684-86579-9.
- P. Clay Sherrod; Thomas L. Koed (2003). A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy: Tools and Techniques for Astronomical Observations. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0-486-42820-8.
- Mousis, O.; et al. (2014). "Instrumental methods for professional and amateur collaborations in planetary astronomy". S2CID 118513531.