Science Owes Debt To Amateurs

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 7

Science Owes Debt To Amateurs

The recent meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand in Christchurch and the opening of the Joyce Memorial Observatory at West Melton have focussed attention on the impact that amateur astronomers have made on this science. Only a small group of amateurs become serious observers. Most are content either merely to be arm-chair astronomers and to read the more popular books on the subject, or else they become telescope makers. These latter usually form a large percentage of amateur astronomers and their main aim is to make larger and better telescopes. Quite often this becomes the entire aim of their activities.

But astronomy owes an enormous debt to the amateurs of all types. Without their financial aid through membership and subscriptions most of the astronomical societies and the journals they publish would cease to exist. This support has enabled much research material to be published by the professional, who is the first to acknowledge his debt to his amateur colleagues. GIFTS FROM AMATEURS Today astronomy has become a big science in which the financial support needed, especially in the older countries, now depends on Government grants. But even there many of the smaller institutions depend for their instruments and much of their financial support on the generosity of the amateur astronmer. New Zealand is still at this stage in the development of astronomy. This is attested to by the large bequests and donations which have led to the establishment of the Auckland Observatory; the Joyce Memorial Observatory

and to the founding and expansion of the Carter Observatory in Wellington. At Mount Stromlo, near Canberra in Australia, is one of the finest observatories in the world. Its first telescope was given by an amateur astronomer, J. Oddie, of Ballarat. This enabled the site to be tested for suitability. Due to another gift of a 6in refractor the first photoelectric observing was attempted in 1928. The first major instrument at Mount Stromlo was a 30in reflecting telescope given by the wellknown English amateur, J. H. Reynolds, who not only specialised in making telescopes himself, but w’as a notable expert in astronomical photography. It was from the modest beginnings of these gifts from amateurs that Mount Stromlo has grown to become the centre of research on the southern heavens. This story can be repeated at very many observatories throughout the world.

TELESCOPES FROM MILLIONAIRES

Whilst many very wealthy men have made large gifts for the furtherance of astronomical knowledge many of these gifts have sprung from their desire to create a monument to themselves or to obtain publicity. Such appears to have been the case with the Yerkes Observatory, near Chicago. The world’s largest refracting telescope is at Yerkes and owes its existence to C. T. Yerkes, the Chicago street-car magnate who had no real interest in astronomy. The gift was obtained by G. E. Hale, who had the uncanny ability to extract large sums from American millionaires for telescopes. John D. Hooker, who provided the funds for the 100-inch at the Mount Wilson Observatory was, unlike Yerkes, really interested in astronomy. He even had his own small telescope with which he occasionally looked at the stars and showed them to his friends. WATCHERS OF THE SKIES Quite apart from the financial support that has come to astronomy from amateurs, many of the best observers have been drawn from the ranks of the serious amateur astronomers. It has been said that these people observe the stars because they cannot help themselves. They are fascinated by them and would rather follow them than anything else. They certainly get a lot more fun from their hobby than do their professional colleagues with whom the work is a job that has to be done.

For some unknown reason recruits to professional astronomy from the ranks of amateurs have included a number who have specialised in photography. Perhaps the best known of these was E. E. Barnard, an indefatigable observer who never missed an opportunity of observing with whatever instrument was available. Barnard only attended school for two months and his childhood was marred by extreme poverty and hardship. His first job was as a photographic assis-

tant and eventually he mastered the trade which stood him in good stead when he had the opportunity to enter astronomy. Comet Discovered

Before this he had become interested in the heavens and at great sacrifice had acquired a small telescope. With this instrument he discovered a number of comets. At that time a prize of 200 dollars was given for each discovery. Barnard had married and with his first prize paid a deposit on a very modest cottage. As each instalment on the house fell due Barnard discovered a new comet and his home was eventually paid for from these discoveries. The cottage became known as “Comet House.” Barnard went on to great things and his photographs are still amongst the best ever taken. Many others have taken similar paths to professional astronomy. But there has always been throughout the world small groups of serious amateur observers who have done researches of a professional nature especially in the field of variable stars, meteors, photography and planetary observing. One of the standard charts of the heavens was produced by a German amateur, Hans Vehrenberg, with twin cameras of 2.8 inches aperture. He has since added larger instruments to his private observatory and followed the Barnard tradition in producing magnificent photos of the galaxies. Wider Fields Today these amateur astronomers have greatly extended their activities and with the encouragement of the professionals have entered fields that were closed to them. Thus at the Joyce Memorial observatory the facilities will enable the Christchurch moon-watch team to expand their observations of artificial satellites. They will watch the moon for transient phenomena of luminescence and engage in many other activities.

In New Zealand almost all serious research in astronomy until very recently has been carried out by amateurs. By pooling their results on a national and international basis they will continue to make a very worth while contribution to serious research. As an example a recent publication of the variable star section of the R.A.S.N.Z. provides observational data on 218 stars and includes over 50,000 observations. This mass of material is a combined effort by amateurs in New Zealand and Australia. In addition they monitor certain types of stars which produce sudden flares and work in conjunction with the professional radio astronomers. Mainly through two fine Schmidt instruments they patrol photographically certain regions of the sky to detect novae—new stars —and other phenomena. Far from the day of the amateur in astronomy being over his observations are more valuable and sought after to-day than ever before. The advance of professional research owes a great deal to the financial support of amateurs.