Amateur Astronomers Can Make Significant Contributions

It used to be that "amateur astronomy" meant dragging a telescope into the backyard or up to the roof, gazing at celestial wonders, tracking meteor showers or maybe snapping a photo of the Moon. Major scientific breakthroughs were left to the professionals.

Today, an explosion of publicly-available space data and advanced technology means hobbyists can make significant contributions to the field, all without leaving their den. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Todd Bookman of WHYY reports.