Amateur astronomer or hobbyist?

[reddoss]

I am an amateur astro-imager, very amateur   

[LukeSkywatcher]

I dont know and i care little. Astronomy has been a big part of my life since i was about 6 yrs old. Did i find astronomy or did it find me?. 

I'm an avid observer. I dont consider it a hobby because its played such a huge part in my life. Looking up at the night sky is second nature to me. Its just part of the person i am. 

Am i an expert?...............no chance. Am i a professional?................no chance. 

I'm just an avid observer of this wonderful tapestry which the universe presents to us.

[JamesF]

I'm a stargazing beer-making motorbiking veggie-gardening chicken-keeping computer-programming house-bodging animal-butchering tractor-driving metal-turning lane-swimming bee-keeping child-raising philosophising book-reading mule-stubborn pig-awkward bag of stardust.

And probably a load of other stuff I forgot

James

[Kropster]

'Hobbyist' is such a horrible word. It sounds made up rather like metal 'detectorist'.

I would rather avoid it altogether and just say that I like to observe the Universe... but does that make me an 'observerist'?   Eeeek!

[alan687]

Technically we are all amateur astronomers thats the official term for unqualified astronomy, professional astronomy begins at the PhD level but i would say when you have a job and an area of study you are classed as professional.

But as said above amateurs have outdone the professionals a few times

[mikeDnight]

I love astronomical quotations and here's one from George Ellery Hale:

Definition of an amateur astronomer;

"A man who works in astronomy because he cannot help it, because he would rather do such work than anything else in the world and therefore cares little for hampering conditions."

Personally I prefer the quote given by William Herschel as my own reason for following passionately this hobby.

"....to take nothing on trust, but to see with my own eyes all that other men had seen before."

Mike

[astronymonkey]

My day job is specialised and technical but I remember a collegue saying we were experts in our field and then said ....

"An Ex is a " has been" , and a Spurt is just a drip under pressure".

Using this definition is suppose an expert at being an amateur hobbyist in astronomy.

I love the hobby, but I also am happy not having to be good at it, and being able to get in from work on a cold clear night and say ...

"I cant be bothered getting the scope out, is there any footy on TV?"

Cheers

[wxsatuser]

Amateur means lover of, so if you love AP, observing etc, you are an amateur.

Anyway I class myself as a photographer, I love photography.......darn it I'm an amateur.

[Owmuchonomy]

I'm not bothered what category I'm in. I like all sorts of Astronomy related stuff including Hawking's message above.

[Siriusmeg]

Hah - my favourite quote