Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Mar 10, 2005 0:03:40 GMT -6
Who Deserves the right to be called an "Astronomer"?
In a recent coorespondance I had, I referred to a collegue of mine as a fellow Astronomer. This very nice person is just as qualified, if not more in the field as I am. In a return note, I was thanked for the sincerety, but the person would rather be described as an "enthusiast" in deference to the degreed and professional Astronomers out there. Now I respect this person decision, but I think the individual is denying their rightful title.
Now, this is where I have a problem, and here is my simple opinion...
The only difference between a professional Astronomer and an amateur Astronomer is the salary and academic status, compared to the guy who does it for sheer love of it without compensation. We all know some amateur Astronomer who can beautifully describe the subtle movements of planetary mechanics or explain complex atomic structure theory of black holes.
I think an enthusiast is a person who watches others and enjoys the effort from the outside. Such as I am a great manned space travel fan and enthusiast, as I will never be an astronaut. So I enjoy watching others sit atop a controlled bomb explosion and whisked off into space. But in Astronomy, I can stand next to the highest degreed person alive today, and participate in observing the same objects as he/she.
Are amateurs any less of an Astronomer because of lack of advanced degrees? I say most heartedly...no! The kid with a pair of binoculars who can identify the night sky in any season is certainly an astronomer, as is the person with a 24" Truss reflector, peering into distant globular clusters in the desert of Arizona. Our good friend Don Macholz who discovered no less then 10 comets is no less an astronomer than the director of any observatory USA, with a Phd in astrophysics. I'll be damned if I'm going to look down my nose at someone who has never peered through a Apo refractor, but instead soley used their 4.5" reflector. Or one who can call out all 88 constellations, but no telescope. It's all the same difference, it's only the dedication and passion that makes a person an Astronomer.
In this board, I started a thread in where I dispise the all too common negative astronomer attitudes, some from professionals, but mostly from amateurs. You all have piped in on that, and I say that respect regardless of formal education, or lack therof, is earned on a one to one basis, and is not Carte Blanc in admiration, idol worship nor awe.
I can appreciate someone who has mastered an advanced degree in astronomy, quite cool really, but I don't consider myself any less of an Astronomer because I have neither the acknlowledgement, or status of an assigned salaried Astronomer. We all have our place in this field, but as my passion drives me to continue to explore astronomy and share the night sky with others, I feel that I am not alone. There is a hell of lot I don't know, and yes...the advanced degreed person can probably run circles around me, but yet, I and others still consider me an Astronomer.
So in conclusion...this knowledgable person who has shown hundreds of people the heavens with great passion feels that they are just an enthusiast in astronomy, but I think otherwise. Don't anyone sell themselves short.
So with pride and confidence, I sign off as...
Chicago Astronomer Joe
;D