Amateur Astronomers Collaborating with and Helping Professional Astronomers

Throughout history, amateur astronomers have made major contributions, ranging from the discovery of planets to identification of supernovae. In the 21st century, collaborations between professionals and amateurs continue to help advance our understanding of the universe. Today's amateurs use equipment ranging from binoculars to large amateur telescopes remotely operated over the Internet. Collaborations include assisting HST personnel in their scheduling of observations to protect sensitive onboard sensors, detecting planet transits of bright stars, analyzing "cataclysmic variables" with research astronomers, and tracking the long-term evolution of the variable stars used to better understand stellar physics. This presentation will overview projects currently under way, discuss the types of telescopes and data analysis tools used by amateurs, and explain how collaborations are established.

Speaker: Dr. Gordon Myers, President Astronomical Society of the Pacific