Backyard Astronomers Discover Black Holes and Other Wonders

VOAVideo: Backyard Astronomers Discover Black Holes and Other Wonders

Amateur Astronomer Gus Johnson didn't set out to witness what scientists say is the first ever observed birth of a black hole. But that's just what he did in 1979. His discovery of Supernova 1979c was only the third supernova in another galaxy ever detected by an amateur. But it has become one of the most important and studied since. Amateur astronomers have been making discoveries for at least 400 years, dating to Galileo's spotting of Jupiter's moons. VOA's Laurel Bowman introduces us to the hobby that helps professional scientists every day.