[vsnet-chat 7199] Re: Supernovae and amateur astronomers

[Gary Poyner]

Agreed Arne, but the original question read...

> Other than a Ph.D., what is the different between 
> a professional and a serious amateur astronomer these days,

I would never dismiss a PhD so lightly!  Who am I to do so!

Cheers,
Gary

-------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Poyner
garypoyner at blueyonder.co.uk
gp at star.sr.bham.ac.uk
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/varstars.html
"You can always tell a Brummie....but you can't tell him much"!
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "arne" <arne at aavso.org>
To: "Gary Poyner" <garypoyner at blueyonder.co.uk>
Cc: <dbwilyumz at aol.com>; <vsnet-chat at ooruri.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [vsnet-chat 7197] Re: Supernovae and amateur astronomers


> So serious amateurs work at another job to gather sufficient funds
> to pursue their astronomy hobby; professionals work at an astronomy
> job to pursue their astronomy hobby. :-)
>   Seriously, the main difference is the PhD.  That is a major
> investment of time, energy, money and intelligence.  Don't
> dismiss it lightly.  Kinda the difference between
> a nurse and a surgeon.  Both are important. (I know surgeons
> whom I would never let draw blood, and professional astronomers
> that should never get near a telescope.)
> Arne
>