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Amateurs and the Search for Supernovae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Stephen H. Lucas*
Affiliation:
14400 S. Kolin Ave., Midlothian, IL60445, U.S.A.

Extract

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The role of amateur astronomers in the search of extragalactic supernovae is emerging. Visual discoveries by John Bennett in 1968 and Gus Johnson in 1979 were isolated and surprising encounters, but are indicative of the possibilities. Between 1980 and the present, these possibilities have been well-tested by the Rev. Robert O. Evans, who has discovered 15 SN’s and shares credit for a 16th. Rev. Evans’ record was achieved through an organized approach to observation and assisted by the development of a unique observing regimen. Detection of SN is a formidable challenge, but the obvious conclusion is that amateurs may expect to attain more than marginal success. We approach this subject from the standpoint of visual observation, but are obliged to acknowledge the contemporaneous and successful application of photography as a search tool.

Type
Part III Observations and Results
Copyright
Copyright © Springer-Verlag 1988