Photoelectric Photometry Newsletter

"Partners in Astronomy" Symposium Summary

All of these topics - and more - were discussed at the symposium. In addition to the plenary lectures, panel discussions, and other oral presentations, approximately 80 poster papers were on display throughout the meeting.

The first session highlighted the work of the AAVSO. It featured both professional astronomers (Janet Mattei, Lee Anne Willson, and John Percy) and leading visual, photoelectric, and CCD observers (Gerald Dyck, Ray Thompson, and Gary Walker). It is remarkable to realize that the demand for AAVSO data and services has increased by a factor of 25 in the last two decades, partly as a result of major collaborations in space astronomy. The AAVSO session was followed by presentations on pro-am partnerships in variable star observing in Europe and South America, and on the very successful international "Center for Backyard Astrophysics" program led by Joseph Patterson.

The next sessions covered the many other areas of amateur research activity mentioned above, including "frontier" areas such as visual, near-infrared, and H-alpha sky surveys, measurement of supernovae and active galactic nuclei, and possible follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursters. There were presentations on computing (by Stefan Mochnacki), on light pollution (by Dave Crawford and Bob Gent), on preservation of historic telescopes (by John Briggs), on the analysis of archival measurements of variable stars (by John Percy), and on the computerization and archiving of spectroscopic plates (by Elizabeth Griffin). There were many highlights: a plenary presentation by Leif Robinson (editor of Sky & Telescope) on "Frontiers of Amateur-Professional Partnership"; CCD imaging to V = 23 with a 0.4m telescope from the suburbs of Ottawa (by Paul Boltwood); high-resolution video images of the planets (by Ron Dantowitz); a crucial pre-maximum observation of a distant supernova as part of the Supernova-Cosmology Project (by Chuck Faranda), and superb solar imaging (by John Hicks). Warren Offutt, 1999 winner of the ASP Amateur Achievement Award, described his impressive discoveries and studies of Kuiper Belt Objects and other faint solar system objects.

Andrew Fraknoi opened the "education day" of the symposium with a review of "The Many Domains of Astronomy Education: It's All a Matter of Partnership". There were panel discussions on "Astronomers in the Schools" (chair: Andrew Fraknoi), on "The Role of Planetariums, Public Observatories, and Science Centers" (chair: Bill Gutsch), on "Astronomers and the Media" (chair: RASC president Randy Attwood), and on "Research-Based Science Education" (chair: Janet Mattei). The latter included a dozen different areas of activity, including reports by high school and university students who were directly engaged in research projects. Following in this vein, there was a lively discussion of "How to Get More Young People and Women Involved in Amateur Astronomy", led by Bob Gent (Astronomical League) and Mary Lou Whitehorne (RASC).

On the evening of 6 July, the AAS WG-PAC held its first meeting, and the last half-day session of the symposium was devoted to their report, and to extensive discussion - all of it recorded for the proceedings. This session provided tremendous momentum for the future activities of the WG-PAC, and for the health of pro-am partnership.

In a panel on "What Motivates Amateur Astronomers?", Andreas Gada, Al Stern, and Tom Williams estimated that the number of "master" amateur astronomers in North America is approximately equal to the number of professional astronomers; the total number of astronomical hobbyists is 10-50 times more. By making these individuals part of our "astronomical community", we bring enjoyment and satisfaction to them, while increasing the level of awareness, understanding, and appreciation of astronomy among students, teachers, and the public, and advancing our science - surely a "win-win" situation for astronomy.

We thank the ASP, the RASC, the AAVSO, and the University of Toronto, for their help in organizing this Symposium. We also acknowledge, with special thanks, grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the University of Toronto, which enabled leading amateur astronomers, and educators, to participate in this symposium.