Editing Astronomy (section)

== Amateur astronomy ==
[[File:Telescope trailer 22.jpg|upright|thumb|Amateur astronomers can build their own equipment, and hold star parties and gatherings, such as [[Stellafane]].]]
{{Main|Amateur astronomy}}

Astronomy is one of the sciences to which amateurs can contribute the most.<ref>{{cite journal
|last = Mims III|first = Forrest M.
|title=Amateur Science—Strong Tradition, Bright Future
|journal=Science|date=1999|volume=284|issue=5411
|pages=55–56
|doi=10.1126/science.284.5411.55
|quote=Astronomy has traditionally been among the most fertile fields for serious amateurs [...]
|bibcode = 1999Sci...284...55M |s2cid = 162370774
}}</ref>

Collectively, amateur astronomers observe a variety of celestial objects and phenomena sometimes with consumer-level equipment or [[Amateur telescope making|equipment that they build themselves]]. Common targets of amateur astronomers include the Sun, the Moon, planets, stars, comets, [[meteor shower]]s, and a variety of [[deep-sky object]]s such as star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae. Astronomy clubs are located throughout the world and many have programs to help their members set up and complete observational programs including those to observe all the objects in the Messier (110 objects) or Herschel 400 catalogues of points of interest in the night sky. One branch of amateur astronomy, [[astrophotography]], involves the taking of photos of the night sky. Many amateurs like to specialize in the observation of particular objects, types of objects, or types of events that interest them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amsmeteors.org/|title = The American Meteor Society|access-date =24 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060822135040/http://www.amsmeteors.org/| archive-date= 22 August 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jerry|last=Lodriguss|url=http://www.astropix.com/|title = Catching the Light: Astrophotography|access-date =24 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060901185541/http://www.astropix.com/| archive-date= 1 September 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Most amateurs work at visible wavelengths, but many experiment with wavelengths outside the visible spectrum. This includes the use of infrared filters on conventional telescopes, and also the use of radio telescopes. The pioneer of amateur radio astronomy was [[Karl Guthe Jansky|Karl Jansky]], who started observing the sky at radio wavelengths in the 1930s. A number of amateur astronomers use either homemade telescopes or use radio telescopes which were originally built for astronomy research but which are now available to amateurs (''e.g.'' the [[One-Mile Telescope]]).<ref>{{cite web|author=Ghigo, F.|date = 7 February 2006|url=http://www.nrao.edu/whatisra/hist_jansky.shtml|title = Karl Jansky and the Discovery of Cosmic Radio Waves|publisher = National Radio Astronomy Observatory|access-date =24 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060831105945/http://www.nrao.edu/whatisra/hist_jansky.shtml| archive-date= 31 August 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~arcus/cara/|title=Cambridge Amateur Radio Astronomers|access-date=24 August 2006|archive-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524/http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~arcus/cara/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Amateur astronomers continue to make scientific contributions to the field of astronomy and it is one of the few scientific disciplines where amateurs can still make significant contributions. Amateurs can make occultation measurements that are used to refine the orbits of minor planets. They can also discover comets, and perform regular observations of variable stars. Improvements in digital technology have allowed amateurs to make impressive advances in the field of astrophotography.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm| title= The International Occultation Timing Association| access-date= 24 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060821180723/http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm| archive-date= 21 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbat.eps.harvard.edu/special/EdgarWilson.html |title=Edgar Wilson Award |publisher=IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams |access-date=24 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024202325/http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/special/EdgarWilson.html |archive-date=24 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aavso.org/|title = American Association of Variable Star Observers|publisher = AAVSO|access-date =3 February 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100202050715/http://www.aavso.org/| archive-date= 2 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>