This is not a new idea, but rather is the result of a lot of years of people on both sides of the amateur/professional fence working together to bring about the means to share observational astronomy. I spent several years working on data from observers around the world during the International Halley watch days, and then later on worked with about 200 observers as coordinator for observations during Ulysses Comet Watch. We were doing PRO-AM before it was fashionable! And, we'd go to meetings and get met with attitudes from some professionals that amateurs couldn't possibly do good work. When we'd show 'em our data, that would surprise them.
I think the tide started to turn when pros started noticing that some amateurs had better setups than their college or university observatories!
|