Editing Astronomer (section)

== Amateur astronomers ==
{{main|Amateur astronomy}}
While there is a relatively low number of professional astronomers, the field is popular among [[amateurs]]. Most cities have amateur astronomy clubs that meet on a regular basis and often host [[star party|star parties]]. The [[Astronomical Society of the Pacific]] is the largest general astronomical society in the world, comprising both professional and amateur astronomers as well as educators from 70 different nations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.astrosociety.org/about.html |title=About Us |access-date=29 March 2009 |publisher=[[Astronomical Society of the Pacific]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225074145/http://astrosociety.org/about.html| archive-date= 25 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> 

As with any [[hobby]], most people who practice amateur astronomy may devote a few hours a month to [[stargazing]] and reading the latest developments in research. However, amateurs span the range from so-called "armchair astronomers" to people who own science-grade telescopes and instruments with which they are able to make their own discoveries, create [[Astrophotography|astrophotographs]], and assist professional astronomers in research.<ref name="explore">{{cite web|url=https://explorescientificusa.com/pages/explore-alliance-astrophotography-ambassadors-jack-newton|publisher=[[Explore Scientific]]|title=Explore Alliance Astrophotography Ambassadors - Jack Newton|access-date=15 September 2024|date=2024}}</ref><ref name="tejassvi">{{cite web |vauthors=Tejassvi T |title=A starry-eyed weekend |url=https://gogeomatics.ca/a-starry-eyed-weekend/ |publisher=GoGeomatics Canada |access-date=15 September 2024 |date=10 June 2022}}</ref>