Observing the night sky as a leisure pursuit rather than a professional science: watching planets, stars, meteor showers and deep-sky objects by naked eye, binoculars or a home telescope, often through local astronomy clubs and organized star parties. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Established When (Circa)Watching the sky for practical and religious purposes reaches back to the Babylonians, Chaldeans and ancient Egyptians, but amateur astronomy as a leisure pursuit distinct from professional science took shape circa the mid-nineteenth century among wealthy "Grand Amateur" observers, then reached a much wider public after the Second World War as affordable telescopes and equipment became available to ordinary households. 1 Astronomy
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Associated With
Amateur telescope making developed directly to serve amateur astronomy, supplying hobbyists with instruments built by hand rather than bought.
An umbrella organization of more than 330 amateur astronomy clubs across the United States.
Astrophotography is a specialized application of astronomy, photographing celestial objects and events.
Eclipse chasing (umbraphilia) is a specialized pursuit within amateur astronomy, organized around traveling to witness total solar eclipses.
Satellite watching is practiced by amateur astronomers using the same naked-eye and binocular observing skills as general astronomy, tracking artificial satellites rather than celestial bodies.
Sources
1. Amateur Astronomy (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_astronomyQuote, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_astronomy
Popularizing in the mid-nineteenth century, amateur astronomy gained millions of participants evolving from wealthy Grand Amateurs and the more accessible equipment after World War II.
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