What is an Astronomer?

Date:	Sat, 15 May 2004 12:55:47 -0700 (PDT)
From:	"Glenn A. Walsh" <siderostat1991@yahoo.com> Add to Address Book
Subject:	Fwd: RE:History of amateur astronomy, a reply
To:	HASTRO-L@LISTSERV.WVU.EDU
CC:	"Eric Canali" , "Glenn Walsh" <gawalsh@planetarium.cc>

Eric G. Canali, a very experienced *amateur*
astronomer and former Floor Manager of Pittsburgh's
original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science, has always had a strict interpretation of
what an "Astronomer" is. Here is his explanation:
 
--- "Canali, Eric;
wrote:
> Subject: RE: Re: History of amateur astronomy, a
> reply
> Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 16:16:06 -0400
> From: "Canali;
> To: "Glenn A. Walsh" <siderostat1991@yahoo.com>
> 
> GLENN, et al,
> 
> The way an Astronomy grad student related it to me
> back in the seventies is what I've always relied
> upon:
> 
> Astronomers are "research scientists"; that is, they
> must be both involved in an ongoing program of
> research, AND publishing, to maintain the title
> "Astronomer". Consequentally they are very fussy
> about who gets called "Astronomer". Some astronomers
> who are currenly only teaching and not researching &
> publishing may even defer to referring to themselves
> as being "Professor of Astronomy", avoiding the
> title astronomer if their last published work has
> gotten rather "cold".
> 
> Astronomers have to be "doing" astronomy; not simply
> having achieved a degree in it.
> 
> -Eric Canali
> (Not an Astronomer)
 
For more information, or a clarification, send your request to the
Following electronic mail address: < FAQ@planetarium.cc >.
 
Editor’s Note: This astronomically-related question was answered by a very experienced amateur
astronomer, who also works as a part-time Tour Guide at the Allegheny Observatory
in Pittsburgh. Allegheny Observatory provides public tours two nights a week from
April through October; pre-registration is necessary, but the tours are free-of-charge.
 
For many years, Eric G. Canali was Floor Manager for the original Buhl Planetarium
and Institute of Popular Science in Pittsburgh. He also was a long-time member of the
Amateur Astronomers' Association of Pittsburgh and is Founder of the South Hills
Backyard Astronomers.
 
=====
gaw
 
Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < gawalsh@planetarium.cc > 
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
 < http://www.planetarium.cc > 
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: 
 < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear: 
 < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com > 
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
 < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
 < http://www.incline.cc >