Space Program Engages Amateur Astronomers

July 11, 2011 By Aminda

It’s a good time in history to be an amateur astronomer, as technology is making it possible for star gazers around the globe to connect, share and best of all, contribute to scientific discovery and research.

For example, hundreds of amateur astronomers contributed to analyzing the path of a comet. The twist is that these scientific photos were submitted without the knowledge of the collectors.

In 2007, Comet 17P/Holmes briefly became the brightest object in the solar system, sparking interest from astrophotographers worldwide. Two researchers, one from the U.S., the other in Germany, searched for and found 2,476 unique images of Comet Holmes on the Internet. Then, using Astrometry.net, the images were superimposed on each other, making visible the comet’s path across the sky. The researchers are already trying it with another comet, hoping to create a true sky survey.

Projects by the U.S. NASA program have also been very successful. One, called “Planet Hunters”, enlisted amateur astronomers to assist scientists in identifying 1235 potential planets. Another venture, Galaxy Zoo, received more than 50 million classifications of galaxies from about 150,000 people.

Even the not-so-scientific endeavors can be engaging. Two U.S. filmmakers are shooting a documentary about the legacy of NASA’s space program, in commemoration of the last space shuttle mission. The film will chronicle the reactions and emotions of Space program fans in anticipation of the end. Filmmakers have organized many of the fans to capture video from several vantage points at the July 8 launch of the shuttle Atlantis. The movie is targeted for release March 9, 2012, at the SXSW® Film Conference and Festival


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