The Amateur-Turned-Professional Syndrome: Two Australian Case Studies

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and Amateur Astronomy in Queensland

“…Not long after, the body that was soon to be titled 'The Astronomical Society of Queensland' (ASQ) held its inaugural meeting on 3 October a For the purposes of this paper, an 'amateur astronomer' is defined as someone involved in astronomy for the love of it, and who normally does not derive a primary income from astronomy (Orchiston, 2015).…”

“…This made it relatively easy for the ATP syndrome to operate: Ellery and Edward John White (Orchiston, 2017) in Melbourne; Robert Innes (1861Innes ( -1933 (Orchiston, 2001(Orchiston, , 2003, C. J. Merfield (1866Merfield ( -1931 (Orchiston, 2015) and James Nangle (1868Nangle ( -1941 (Orchiston, 2017) in Sydney; while in 1862, Windsor's John Tebbutt (1834-1916 (Orchiston, 2017) was offered but declined the prestigious Directorship of Sydney Observatory.…”

“…Overseas studies of the ATP syndrome in the nineteenth century identify research programs, publications and societal involvement as key charac teristics of most of those amateurs who made the transition (Chapman, 1998;Williams, 1988;Ashbrook, 1984;Clerke, 1893); and in cities devoid of professional astronomers, before they became professionals these ATPs often ran their private observatories as de facto city observatories, offering the full range of services and facilities normally available from government-or universityfunded public observatories: public viewing nights; astronomical and meteorological information (particularly through the local media); a local time service; and public lectures, or even courses, on astronomy (Orchiston, 2015).…”

“…To all intents and purposes, they were professional astrono mers in all but name only! (Orchiston, 2015).…”

“…In the case of Robert Ellery, for example, opportunism and political expe diency came to the fore: he was the right man in the right place at the right time. Thus, he scored the founding Directorship of Williamstown Observatory in 1853 without having an inter national record as an amateur astronomer (Orchiston, 2015).…”