Amateur Astronomers as Informal Science Ambassadors -- A Planning Grant

太平洋天文学会与天文学联盟和《天空与望远镜》杂志合作，将对业余天文学家进行调查，以确定他们为哪些非正式受众服务，以及何种类型的辅助材料将鼓励他们开展更多和更好的外联活动，并测试一套外联辅助材料的原型。 业余天文学家估计有300，000至500，000人，他们是在社区和学校开展教育推广活动的一个巨大的、大多未开发的专业知识和热情来源。

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, in collaboration with the Astronomical League and Sky and Telescope Magazine, will survey amateur astronomers to determine which informal audiences they serve and what types of support materials would encourage them to do more and better outreach, and to test a prototype set of outreach support materials. Amateur astronomers, estimated to number 300,000 to 500,000, represent a large and mostly untapped source of expertise and enthusiasm for conducting educational outreach activities in the community and in schools.