Amateur astronomers have proved time and again how much their contributions can help professionals promote progress in their field.
A recent example is Greek amateur astronomer Emmanuel Kardasis, a member of the Hellenic Amateur Astronomy Association.
Kardasis created the new Ganymede brightness map (or albedo map) by using a common “hobby” telescope, ordinary camera and computer equipment.
Officials of the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) said that his map matches with the ones taken by professionals.
The EPSC is meeting this week in Madrid and Kardasis’ map is to be presented in hope of encouraging amateur astronomers to continue their own research.
Kardasis’ map identifies features on Ganymede, such as Phrygia Sulcus, a system of thousands of miles of grooves and ridges and a low-lying dark area called the Nicholson region.
GREEK WORLD MEDIA 