Meeting Memories

Chief Scientist for Gamma Ray Astronomy at NASA-MSFC, Dr. Gerald Fishman, presents a survey of high-energy astronomy and astrophysics to the HEA Workshop attendees.

I was impressed by the large number of professional and amateur astronomers who came from all over the world to attend the HEA Workshop. Among about 150 people, nearly one third were professionals and about 90 were amateurs. They came from the USA and ten other countries, including Canada, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Belgium, England, Switzerland, and my country, Italy.

I judged the schedule of the HEA Workshop to be well worth the twenty hour journey from my house in Padova to Huntsville, but the lectures even exceeded my expectations. I really enjoyed the up-to-date reviews covering situations where "the energy density is much higher than that found in normal stars or galaxies," as Dr. Gerald Fishman defined high-energy astrophysics when introducing the two-day workshop. As I collaborate with a monthly astronomy magazine and give many lectures in high schools each year, I will disseminate the highlights of the HEA Workshop to Italian amateurs and students.

As an amateur equipped with a CCD camera and a 12" instrument, the most exciting lecture for me was that of Dr. Scott Barthelmy. The rapid distribution of gamma ray burst notifications by Dr. Barthelmy's GRB Coordinates Network will allow amateur astronomers to make timely observations of these events. That will allow amateurs to join the ranks of the Buffalo, New York, amateurs (present at the meeting and hailed enthusiastically by the participants) who detected the optical counterpart of a March GRB event.

I also enjoyed the April 15 Spring Meeting of the AAVSO, filled with more talks concerning amateur astronomers' contributions to research and their cooperation with professionals, such as helping to ensure continued research funding for US astronomy. This was my second AAVSO meeting, following the one in Sion, Switzerland, in 1997, to which Dr. Mattei also kindly invited me. The meeting confirmed my opinion of our highly valuable consortium of researchers who operate as amateurs at a professional level. Moreover, I was touched by the humanity and friendship of all of the AAVSO members and staff personnel. Many of them shared with me (despite my poor English) their satisfaction from being amateur astronomers and active members of this valuable organization. I look forward to attending other AAVSO meetings in the United States and to seeing again the many friends I met for the first time in Huntsville.

Giancarlo Favero (FGI)
Italy

The HEA Workshop was extremely helpful for my knowledge of high-energy astrophysics. The quality of the speakers and their credentials were second to none. The speakers were able to convey the information to amateur astronomers lacking astrophysics degrees in no-nonsense terms. After returning from the workshop, I was able to help those in our club and community better understand the vagaries and intricacies of such objects as gamma ray bursts, blazers, and BL Lac objects. I highly recommend that this workshop be continued in the future so that other amateurs with a love of the stars can receive training in the areas of high-energy astrophysics.

Patrick C. Carr
Arkansas

[AAVSO has seven copies of videotapes of the HEA Workshop available on a first-come, first-served basis for members who will make full use of them by giving presentations to astronomy clubs, schools, and other members of the public. In addition, AAVSO has two copies that members may borrow for themselves and then return for use by other members. Interested members should contact AAVSO Headquarters for more information. Ed.]

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