But I don't imagine anyone will quit their day job. I enjoy getting out there because it's a challenge. The award does, however, motivate my wife to get me out there looking. I hunt for comets because I enjoy it. Money and medals, however, seem to have had more of an impact a century ago than they do today.
Most comet hunters say they do it because they love to do it.
Yuji Hyakutake of Kagoshima, Japan, for instance, is extremely modest. No cash prize came his way when he discovered two comets only five weeks apart in 1995 and 1996. Kesao Takamizawa of Nagano Prefecture, who has discovered five comets, two novae, one supernova, and numerous variable stars, says that the Wilson award encourages him to find more comets, but it is not essential. But, no, nobody is actively looking for comets here. That's probably the reason why there doesn't exist a single comet with a Central American name.