Comments on: Amateur? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:11:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » Carnival of Space #25 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51966 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » Carnival of Space #25 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:10:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51966 [...] data on the early history of the burst. Centauri Dreams discusses the discovery, as does the Bad Astronomer in more [...] [...] data on the early history of the burst. Centauri Dreams discusses the discovery, as does the Bad Astronomer in more [...]

]]> By: C. Birkbeck http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51965 C. Birkbeck Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51965 Food for thought: astronomy is one the last sciences where amateur can keep up with professionals (with enough money and in certain areas, but still ...). The book to read is <i>Seeking in the Dark</i> by Timothy Ferris Food for thought: astronomy is one the last sciences where amateur can keep up with professionals (with enough money and in certain areas, but still …). The book to read is Seeking in the Dark by Timothy Ferris

]]> By: mike burkhart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51964 mike burkhart Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:03:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51964 I dont mind beeing caled an amateur astronomer for several resons 1 its not my profesion astronomy is more of a hobby with me so therfore I am not in Dr Platts leage . 2 I have no collage degree in astronomy most of what I know comes from books and magizenes about the subject (althro i did take a slef teachering course from a catalog and I took wikiuniversitys on line course in april) 3 I am not quilified to form theroys or hypothesis about the universe and I dont try to (in fact its lucky I dont with my addiction to sci fi and video games my theroyes would sound stupid and I have the scientific comunity burning me in effige) so I feal that when it comes to astronomy I am strictly an amateur I dont mind beeing caled an amateur astronomer for several resons 1 its not my profesion astronomy is more of a hobby with me so therfore I am not in Dr Platts leage . 2 I have no collage degree in astronomy most of what I know comes from books and magizenes about the subject (althro i did take a slef teachering course from a catalog and I took wikiuniversitys on line course in april) 3 I am not quilified to form theroys or hypothesis about the universe and I dont try to (in fact its lucky I dont with my addiction to sci fi and video games my theroyes would sound stupid and I have the scientific comunity burning me in effige) so I feal that when it comes to astronomy I am strictly an amateur

]]> By: csrster http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51963 csrster Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:04:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51963 The term "amateur astronomer" has had a long and honourable history. I don't see any reason to change it now. The term “amateur astronomer” has had a long and honourable history. I don’t see any reason to change it now.

]]> By: Troy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51962 Troy Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:40:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51962 Is it just me or did the Swedish chef just leave a comment? Maybe it was the Swedish astronomer? (Ok actually it is perfectly good Dutch) Is it just me or did the Swedish chef just leave a comment? Maybe it was the Swedish astronomer? (Ok actually it is perfectly good Dutch)

]]> By: MJKelleher http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51961 MJKelleher Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:49:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51961 @Lurchgs, "apprentice" and "journeyman" wouldn't be appropriate, as they're stages in "professional" development, dating back to the Guilds of olde. Apprentice being the student learning the trade, journeyman having enough knowledge to work at it. Master would be the expert, supervisor, innovator. I see the amateur/professional tension in the theater. A company I work with self-defines as being "amateur, but with professional standards". We do it for love, for experience, but not for money. I think a lot of amateur astronomers could be described the same way. @Lurchgs, “apprentice” and “journeyman” wouldn’t be appropriate, as they’re stages in “professional” development, dating back to the Guilds of olde. Apprentice being the student learning the trade, journeyman having enough knowledge to work at it. Master would be the expert, supervisor, innovator.

I see the amateur/professional tension in the theater. A company I work with self-defines as being “amateur, but with professional standards”. We do it for love, for experience, but not for money. I think a lot of amateur astronomers could be described the same way.

]]> By: Astrolink [International Edition] » Blog Archive » Astrosphere for October 15th, 2007 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/comment-page-1/#comment-51960 Astrolink [International Edition] » Blog Archive » Astrosphere for October 15th, 2007 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:38:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/14/amateur/#comment-51960 [...] The Bad Astronomer explains how valuable contributions to astronomy come from amateurs. [...] [...] The Bad Astronomer explains how valuable contributions to astronomy come from amateurs. [...]

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