Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 19, 2004 17:22:38 GMT -6
I read this post on another forum, and thought I would include the link here.
June 18, 2004 | The past decade has seen an explosion in the number of backyard observers using high-end equipment and sophisticated software to record faint asteroids, discover supernovae, and even detect extrasolar planets. So it's not surprising that many accomplished amateurs yearn to contribute directly to scientific research. Over the years many of them have sent observations to organizations like the American Association for Variable Star Observers and the International Occultation Timing Association. But for those who wanted to work one-on-one with a professional astronomer, the opportunities were few and far between.
More here at Sky and Telescope: skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1278_1.asp
Look at this guy's set-up! I feel rather goofy setting up my 4.5" knowing this is around. I want an observatory like this.
Brian, you had mentioned that your school worked to build an observatory. I bet it wasn't in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Ed would control it completely and kill it. I had explored the possibility when I served on a school council, but the resistance and domineering attitude was not appetizing.
In the back of my head, desire to build an inner city observatory...with a set-up like this guy has. Lemmie think about this some more.
Must be nice to have money.
June 18, 2004 | The past decade has seen an explosion in the number of backyard observers using high-end equipment and sophisticated software to record faint asteroids, discover supernovae, and even detect extrasolar planets. So it's not surprising that many accomplished amateurs yearn to contribute directly to scientific research. Over the years many of them have sent observations to organizations like the American Association for Variable Star Observers and the International Occultation Timing Association. But for those who wanted to work one-on-one with a professional astronomer, the opportunities were few and far between.
More here at Sky and Telescope: skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1278_1.asp
Southern California amateur astronomer Dale Mais does real science, including stellar spectroscopy, from his backyard observatory near Palomar Mountain. Mais's equipment arsenal includes a Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a 5-inch Astro-Physics refractor, two SBIG CCD cameras, and an SBIG spectrograph, all riding atop a Software Bisque Paramount ME. The entire setup is controlled by computers running powerful off-the-shelf software. Sky & Telescope photo by Dennis di Cicco
Look at this guy's set-up! I feel rather goofy setting up my 4.5" knowing this is around. I want an observatory like this.
Brian, you had mentioned that your school worked to build an observatory. I bet it wasn't in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Ed would control it completely and kill it. I had explored the possibility when I served on a school council, but the resistance and domineering attitude was not appetizing.
In the back of my head, desire to build an inner city observatory...with a set-up like this guy has. Lemmie think about this some more.
Must be nice to have money.
