Backyard astronomer from Broken Hill contributes to world
Amateur astronomer Trevor Barry from Broken Hill, Australia, has been credited as a co-author on a scientific paper regarding the discovery of a decagon wave on Saturn. Barry captured the data using his self-built telescope and collaborated with international researchers to confirm the atmospheric phenomenon.
Why it matters
This highlights the significant contributions amateur scientists can make to professional space research through long-term data collection.
Broken Hill astronomer Trevor Barry with his self-built telescope in his personal observatory. ( ABC News: Oliver Brown )
An amateur astronomer living in outback NSW is a co-author of a paper announcing the discovery of a decagon wave around Saturn's south pole.
Trevor Barry says he is proud that his hometown of Broken Hill, where he used to work as a miner and has built his observatory, is listed in the discovery.
Much is still unknown about the decagon, including how it formed or whether it is permanent, but Mr Barry will continue to monitor it closely from his backyard.
Link copied Share Share article From a backyard in outback NSW in 2024, a former mine worker spotted something mysterious in the sky on his favourite planet, Saturn.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in