Amateur Science

Today, an amateur astronomer disclosed an amazing discovery on Jupiter. Every morning for the past week I have been witnessing Jupiter in the southwestern sky. But this Australian man peered into his backyard telescope and found a spot that he'd never seen before.

Jupiter, it turns out, is his passion. He knows many of the contours of this planet and this odd spot at first seemed like something he should know. As he gained confidence, he realized it was something different. Different, in fact, from the last time he looked at Jupiter, two nights before.

Indeed, NASA astronomers have confirmed that it appears that something hit the planet, causing this hole, this spot.

Amateur scientists are everywhere and frequently, trusting their gut more than anything, surprise and dazzle us with their discoveries. It is "local knowledges." You watch and observe something for so long, you just know. Different birds, or swallows coming earlier in the season, or bears being more adventurous, or a smell...we can learn a lot from these folks.

Good on ya' mate. Great discovery. And so wonderful 40 years after the first man stepped on the moon. Imagination isn't dead.