Citizen Science: How Amateurs Help Discover Worlds

Citizen science lets everyday people contribute to real astronomical discoveries.
Projects like Galaxy Zoo enlist volunteers to classify galaxies by shape.
Amateur astronomers have discovered new comets, asteroids, and even exoplanets.
The project Planet Hunters uses citizen scientists to spot exoplanet transits in light curves.
Volunteers help process the massive data from telescopes like Kepler and TESS.
Some amateurs provide long-term monitoring of variable stars for professional research.
Citizen scientists often catch rare events, like supernovae and occultations.
Data analysis platforms turn thousands of eyes into a powerful discovery tool.
Contributions are recognized in scientific papers, with amateurs listed as co-authors.
Citizen science proves that anyone with curiosity can help explore the universe.