| Pre-1980: |
The International Union of Amateur Astronomers (IUAA)
organizes observing commissions to collect data for use by professionals.
|
| 1983, 1985: |
IUAA meetings are held in Belgium and Bologna. |
| 1987: |
International Astronomical Union sponsors Colloquium
98 on Amateur Contributions to Astronomy in Paris, France, attended
by 300 professional and amateur astronomers. |
| 1988: |
A two-day meeting leads to the passage of a resolution
by the IAU General Assembly recognizing and encouraging further cooperation
with the amateur community. |
| 1991: |
The Corporation for Research Amateur Astronomy holds
a symposium in La Paz, Mexico, and its proceedings are later published. |
| 1991, 1993: |
The American Association of Variable Star Observers
(AAVSO) and American Astronomical Society (AAS) hold consecutive meetings
on emerging CCD technology and further collaboration. |
| June, 1997: |
The AAS meeting in Winston Salem offers three sessions
of presentations (21 oral, 14 display) to showcase amateurs' wide
range of observing skills. |
| Oct. 1998: |
A topical workshop at the annual meeting of the AAS's
Division for Planetary Sciences in Madison, Wisconsin, explores avenues
for collaboration using existing and proposed amateur organizations. |
| Dec. 1998: |
The Committee of the AAS Division for Planetary Sciences
approves a resolution endorsing the furthering of professional-amateur
cooperation. A proposal for creating the Working Group on Professional-Amateur
Collaboration (WGPAC) is submitted to the AAS Council. |
| Jan. 1999: |
The AAS Council approves the WGPAC proposal, granting
an initial five-year charter. |
| July 1999: |
A two-day "Partnerships in Astronomy" symposium is
attended by 200 professionals and amateurs during a joint meeting
of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AAVSO, and Royal Astronomical
Society of Canada in Toronto. The WGPAC holds its first meeting there. |
| August 1999: |
The European Southern Observatory and the German amateur
society Vereinigung der Sternfreunde host a week-long symposium entitled
"Research Amateur Astronomy in the VLT Era." |
| May 2001: |
Dirk Terrell conducts a workshop on observing eclipsing
binaries at the AAVSO's annual meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. |
| July 2002: |
A session at the annual convention of the Astronomical
League (ALCON) in Salt Lake City, Utah, debuts the first WGPAC-sanctioned
workshop on advanced observing techniques. |
