Free Astronomy Magazine March-April 2020

33 MARCH-APRIL 2020 OUR EXPERIENCES T he astrophysi- cist Francisco Sánchez Martínez, during the inau- gural conference of the XX C.E.A. He was the founder and then director of the In- stituto Astrofísico de Canarias. Fue el impulsor del Gran Telescopio Canarias, que es el mayor del mundo todavía. progress in astro- nomical knowledge, learn to use a tele- scope or even make observation equip- ment himself. Today, many tutorials exist on the Internet that simplify learning and practical construction of different instru- ments. Furthermore, the ar- rival of digital elec- tronics in this field has meant a com- plete revolution, and it is, therefore, possi- ble to achieve results that were pre- viously the prerogative of profes- sionals, large companies and institu- tions with amateur instruments. These new possibilities have seg- mented amateur astronomers, who have fallen into different classes, some very specialized. Due to, or thanks to, all the above, the market has been flooded with infinite possibilities. Something that C omet Holmes, in November 2007 after the out- break that brought up its luminosity several magnitudes. ! didn’t exist many years ago has now become abundant. It is not bad that this happens, but regardless of the pleasure or disgust it produces, it has completely changed the condi- tions of the amateur astronomers’ market. And so it happens that we don’t have to wait for information, but now have less certainty in the days or times we gather together and share knowledge, since we have everything we need directly at home. Finally, the terrible light pol- lution we suffer causes many ama- teurs not to see stars normally, and this prevents newbies from growing alongside more expert members. Amateur astronomer groups and publications are languishing and gradually being replaced by emails, WhatsApp and other forms of com- munication, relegating to last place the merriment in social observing. At least, this is what we have suf- fered in the AAS. The “specialist” members have gradually moved away from the “normal” members, and the result is a weak association that fails to fulfill the purposes for which it was created, such as the dis- semination of astronomy. The passion for the stars can suffer ups and downs, but there will al- ways be this passion, and times will come that will not be like ours now, but instead will be excellent for the new amateurs.