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'Amateur' Astronomer Snaps Pic of Planet-Forming Disk

Posted by Soulskill on from the getting-the-most-out-of-your-tools dept.

The Bad Astronomer writes "Rolf Olsen, an 'amateur' astronomer in New Zealand, took an amazing photo of a disk of material around the star Beta Pictoris, the first time this has been seen outside of professional observatories. Incredibly, he snagged it with just a 25 cm (10") telescope! A comparison with an earlier pic from a much larger observatory indicates he nailed it, making this a milestone for amateur astronomy."

5 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. As Austin Powers Says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, especially with only a 25 cm (10 inch) telescope!

    It's not the size: It's how you use it, Baby!

  2. How about some more quotes by slaad · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Rolf Olsen, an 'amateur' astronomer in 'New' Zealand, took an amazing 'photo' of a 'disk' of material around the 'star' Beta Pictoris, the first time this has been seen outside of 'professional' observatories. Incredibly, he snagged it with just a 25 'cm' (10") telescope! A comparison with an earlier 'pic' from a much larger 'observatory' indicates he nailed it, making this a 'milestone' for 'amateur' astronomy."

    --


    ~Warning!~ The above is encrypted using rot676!
  3. Re:Why is 'amateur' in quotes? by LoverOfJoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps the /. "editors" could help fight this common misunderstanding by dropping the superfluous quotes.

    Fixed that for you.

  4. Re:Why the quotes around amateur? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Both astronomer and porn star? What are the odds?

  5. Re:Why the quotes around amateur? by theweatherelectric · · Score: 5, Funny

    Both astronomer and porn star? What are the odds?

    Astronomical.