[vsnet-chat 2928] (fwd) VSNET "constitution" : [for VSCHAT] (Greaves)

[Taichi Kato <tkato>]

(fwd) VSNET "constitution" : [for VSCHAT] (Greaves)

Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 09:12:01 +0000
From: JG <jgts@jgws.totalserve.co.uk>
Subject: VSNET "constitution" : [for VSCHAT]

I must confess to being unaware of what VSNET's "written constitution" is,
but in partial response to Brian Skiff's "vsnet lists & traffic" note,
specifically the part that reads:-

>More specifically, is there any point, for instance, in Danie
>Overbeek diligently checking scores of dwarf novae each night if no
>physical observations are ever made of any outbursting object he finds?

it should be remembered that the vast majority of visual observers observe
for observing's sake, and may only consider any professional &/or
scientific spin off as a bonus.

Indeed, if all the professional astronomers were whisked off by some
malevolent force tomorrow, I seriously doubt that many amateur variable
star observers would think "well that's it then, I'd better pack it in".

I know of at least one prolific visual observer whose personal remit is to
observe every CV going at every available opportunity for as long as
humanly possible.

It can take years before proficient observing at significant volumes
becomes automatic to the visual observer, and possibly longer for them to
understand any scientific connotations. Participation with others without
restrictive restraints will assist in lessening this time.

Do not misunderstand my point: professional liaison is incredibly
important, and in the cataclysmic variable star field a great debt of
gratitude is owed to Henden, Kato, Patterson and Skiff [apologies to those
I've missed out!], with Henden & Skiff also providing valuable assistance
to the "lumps o' rock" amateur community.

Let it not be forgot, however, that professionals follow trends and
fashions, and amateurs doggedly doing their own thing can often come across
the unexpected.  Stan Walker's mail and comments on current emphasis is
significant here.  There's lots of phenomena that LPVs display that are
regularly ignored by professionals, I wouldn't be surprised if this was
also true of CVs, as Stan Walker quite rightly implies. It's not that these
phenomena are "done and dusted" either, it's just that they not studied
because they are not in vogue.

The parallel with planetary observations was interesting, especially in the
context of the recent merger of two long standing major "satellite ovals"
of the GRS on Jupiter.  Despite Galileo, would that have been noticed if
amateurs weren't keeping watch?  The merger details of these two was
relevant to current studies of Jovian atmospheric dynamics.

[Although I too must confess to not understanding what this current amateur
trend of finding ever fainter supernovae in ever obscurer galaxies is all
about, _especially_ if said galaxy is of low z.]

It is, of course, up to VSNETters and Taichi Kato to decide what the remit
of VSNET is.

For those bored with the topic already, let me just note that if the proper
forum provided by VSNET-Chat had been used to engender proper debate upon
the appropriate remit of VNSET-Alert in the first place, instead of
VSNET-Alert itself being used by one individual to pontificate to his
peers, you wouldn't have heard a peep out of me on the subject!!!!!

Cheers, and of course clear skies no matter what you like to look at,

John

John Greaves
UK

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