From: dsc@gemini.tmc.edu (Doug S. Caprette Bldg. 28 W191 x3892)
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Organization: NASA GSFC CDP VLBI
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 04:01:07 GMT

In article <JEFF.COOK.92Apr8152116@pigpen.FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM> Jeff.Cook@FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM (Jeff Cook) writes:
>In article <1992Apr7.150110.7927@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> dsc@gemini.tmc.edu (Doug S. Caprette Bldg. 28 W191 x3892) writes:
>
>>
>>Since amateur astronomy is a recreation activity, even when 'real' science is
>>being done (its still fun) how about:
>>
>>rec.astro
>>
>>?
Evidently the posting above was so brief that you misinterpretted it.  So,
I will elaborate below.
>
>I have to respectfully disagree with this.  Amateur astronomers serve
                                      ^^^^
				      What, pray tell, is the antecedent for
				      this pronoun.  Your statement is so 
				      ambiguous that I cannot determine just
				      what it is that you disagree with!
                                      I.e. do you not agree that astronomy
				      is done for recreation?  Do you not agree
				      that astronomy done for recreation is
				      real science?  Or, do you not agree that
				      real science is fun?

>the scientific community through organizations such as the AAVSO and
>IMO, and as individuals through new discoveries of such things as
>comets, novae, asteroids and variable stars.
>
Like my friend who discovered a 200 km error in the ephemeris for Europa.
>
>In addition, while it's true that amateur astronomers are doing it for
>enjoyment, that doesn't mean it's not science. 

All right.   Next time I won't put real in ''.  
                                                      (When did science stop
>being fun?)  I suspect the professionals are doing it for fun, too.

To my knowledge, never.  Hence the statement above:  (It's still fun.)
After all, if it were not fun, it could not be recreational, could it?

>Otherwise, they would have gotten jobs as accountants or car salesmen.
>The main difference between the pros and the amateurs is that the pros
>get paid for their efforts.  We don't.
>
Right.  That's why it's a recreational activity.  Some people get paid for
taking pictures.  For those who don't, photography is a recreational
activity.  Some play sports professionally.  Those who play sports but don't
get paid are doing it for recreation.  Some people get paid to act, dance,
sing, or play music.  They are professional entertainers.  People who dance,
act, sing, or play music without being paid, do so for recreation.  (Or,
they sink.)  
>
>Amateur astronomy encompasses many fields, such as optics, electronics,
>mathematics, computer science, and mechanical engineering.  The serious
>amateur has a broad range of interests, and a love of the science that
>sometimes surpasses the professional.  How many astronomers get up at
>3 AM every morning to sit out in the bitter cold in front of an eyepiece
>to watch a star being occulted by an asteroid, or to look for a new
>comet?  Amateur astronomers do this all the time, and have to find a way
>to do it while holding down a regular job and family commitments.
>
Wow.  You must have a lot of aperture if you can see a star occulted by an
asteroid *EVERY* morning!  It is because amateur astronomy is *NOT* some-
thing that contributes to earning a living and caring for a family, that
makes it a recreational activity.

>
>To put amateur astronomy in the same category as rec.games.video or
>rec.humor.funny would be terribly unfortunate, and would send the wrong
 
I never suggested that it be put in the same category as rec.games.video or
rc.humor.funny.  I suggested creating the new category rec.astro.

>message to anyone with a budding interest in the subject.  Amateur
>astronomy _is_ science, and IMHO it should stay in the science
>heirarchy.
>--

People (Clearly not you or I) who don't see the value of amateur astronomy
are not going to be won over by putting the newsgroup in the sci. hierarchy.

Rec.astro, was simply a suggestion.  I really don't care where the articles
go, as long as I can find them.  

You see, we really do agree as to the value of amateur astronomy.  
--
 |  Regards,         |   Hughes STX                |    Code 926.9 GSFC        |
 |  Doug Caprette    |   Lanham, Maryland          |    Greenbelt, MD  20771   |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why are we born, only to suffer and die." (paraphrased) -- Simon Wagstaff
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