Astronomer Royal on the spot

Posted on 14 Apr 2009 at 17:33

The astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees, talks to PC Pro about how home computing has impacted astronomy.

Q: Is amateur astronomy still important?
A: I think It's important because amateur astronomers are scanning the skies the whole time and also, with access to solid-state detectors and charge-coupled devices, they can do a lot more. With a 10in telescope and a CCD you now have the power of a 1,500in telescope with a photographic plate, so there's a great deal that amateurs can do in terms of scanning the skies and sharing what they find on computers with friends.

Q: With the affordability of computer-controlled telescopes and GoTo mounts, is there a danger that new astronomers can neglect the basics?
A: Obviously there is, but I think the gains greatly outweigh that, in the same way that people who drove cars 70 years ago had to know about starter cams and carburettors in a way that we don't now, yet we don't feel that loss.

Q: Can astronomy still be a way to get the public interested in science, especially young people?
A: Clearly, if they pursue that interest it will lead them to study physics and science in many other areas. It's one of those ways in which young people can get grabbed by science. Some of them will become astronomers, but in far more cases it will lead them to have a scientific career of some other kind.

Q: Is there a risk that people get so used to seeing the incredible images from Hubble, that they are disappointed when they take up astronomy themselves?
A: I think many people are disappointed when they look directly at the Andromeda galaxy, for instance, because it has a very low surface brightness. They forget that the pictures they see in books are long-exposure pictures, and so obviously people do have that feeling. And, of course, there's also the fact that people are used to computer graphics, and they think of computer graphics as reality. But I think, nonetheless, that the internet and computers have been a tremendous boost to astronomy.

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