Europlanet 2024 RI: Fostering the collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers
- 1Vilnius University, Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Lithuania (grazina.tautvaisiene@tfai.vu.lt)
- 2Universidad Del Pais Vasco/Euskal H (ricardo.hueso@ehu.eus)errico Unibertsitatea, Spain
- 3Astronimical Observatory Institute, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland (edypod@amu.edu.pl)
- 4Oesterreichische Akademie Ser Wissenschaften, Austria (guenter.kargl@oeaw.ac.at)
The Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure (RI) provides free access to the world’s largest collection of planetary simulation and analysis facilities, data services and tools, a ground-based observational network and programme of community support activities (https://www.europlanet-society.org/europlanet-2024-ri/).
A new collaboration between telescopes around the world has been launched in 2020 to provide coordinated observations and rapid responses in support of planetary research from space missions and in follow-ups of new events. The Europlanet Telescope Network (EPN-TN) is providing professional and trained amateur observers with access to small and medium-sized telescopes located around the globe (https://www.europlanet-society.org/europlanet-2024-ri/telescope-network/).
The EPN-TN currently comprises 16 observatories with 46 telescopes ranging from 40 cm to 2 m in size. The network can be accessed free of charge to carry out projects on a wide variety of scientific studies about the Solar System and exoplanets, as well as related astronomical investigations. The network is open for new infrastructures.
The first scientific results achieved with EPN-TN were presented at the Europlanet Telescope Network Science Meeting held on the 6-11 February, 2022. Among 210 participants from 43 countries, there were 80 amateur astronomers participating (http://mao.tfai.vu.lt/europlanet2022/). The network aims to strengthen collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, who are playing an increasingly important role in planetary research. Observing time applicants from amateur astronomers are very welcome.
We will overview the EPN-TN and its potential in fostering the collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers.
Acknowledgements
Europlanet 2024 RI has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 871149.
How to cite: Tautvaisiene, G., Hueso, R., Podlewska-Gaca, E., Kargl, G., Mikolaitis, S., and Garate-Lopez, I.: Europlanet 2024 RI: Fostering the collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers, Europlanet Science Congress 2022, Granada, Spain, 18–23 Sep 2022, EPSC2022-651, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2022-651, 2022.
