Uploaded January 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Every day and every night thousands of Amateur Astronomers are pointing their telescopes into the skies, surveying the stars, planets and our Sun. The term "Amateur" does not do justice to the great work these women and men are doing. Not only do they help with education and inspiration, but they also find comets.
Yesterday, Amateur Astronomer David Dickinson pointed his solar telescope at the Sun and recorded a beautiful solar prominence. I decided it would be fun to compare it with what NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory sees. This is not to show much more better one is over the other, but rather that by working together, we can accomplish more, reach more people and perhaps inspire a few new astronomers.
So thank you to all of you who are looking upwards, who are helping newbies with their equipment, who are going into schools, parks and public places to let others look through your telescopes. Thank you for all the findings and for the good times at night and during the day.
Credit: David Dickinson and NASA SDO
Every day and every night thousands of Amateur Astronomers are pointing their telescopes into the skies, surveying the stars, planets and our Sun. The term "Amateur" does not do justice to the great work these women and men are doing. Not only do they help with education and inspiration, but they also find comets.
Yesterday, Amateur Astronomer David Dickinson pointed his solar telescope at the Sun and recorded a beautiful solar prominence. I decided it would be fun to compare it with what NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory sees. This is not to show much more better one is over the other, but rather that by working together, we can accomplish more, reach more people and perhaps inspire a few new astronomers.
So thank you to all of you who are looking upwards, who are helping newbies with their equipment, who are going into schools, parks and public places to let others look through your telescopes. Thank you for all the findings and for the good times at night and during the day.
Credit: David Dickinson and NASA SDO
