2020/11/13 by Helen Usher, Usher, Helen, C. Snodgrass +7
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Space Exploration and Technology
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2011.07123
openalex publication_date 2020/11/13 · openalex created_date 2022/07/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Amateur astronomers can make useful contributions to the study of comets.\nThey add temporal coverage and multi-scale observations which can aid the study\nof fast-changing, and large-scale comet features. We document and review the\namateur observing campaign set up to complement the Rosetta space mission,\nincluding the data submitted to date, and consider the campaign's effectiveness\nin the light of experience from previous comet amateur campaigns. We report the\nresults of surveys of campaign participants, the amateur astronomy community,\nand schools who participated in a comet 46P observing campaign. We draw lessons\nfor future campaigns which include the need for: clarity of objectives;\nrecognising the wider impact campaigns can have on increasing science capital;\nclear, consistent, timely and tailored guidance; easy upload procedures with\nin-built quality control; and, regular communication, feedback and recognition.\n