Ajai Sehgal, "Amateur Astronomers Contributing to Real Science - Robotic Observatories for the Discovery of Supernovae," Main Tent, Friday, 10:00 a.m. Ajai and Jack Newton are this year's recipients of the "Bring Home the Bacon Award" for their co-discovery of Supernova 2005dy. Ajai takes the images and Jack scans them.

Ajai has been an amateur astronomer for 35 years, since he was eight. He is the author of Hidden Image and the Maximum entropy code in MaxIm DL. He has his observatory in Osoyoos, B.C.

Digital imagery and low cost robotic telescopes with the capabilities of professional observatories have enabled amateur astronomers to contribute to real science. Ajai's talk is a light-hearted look at the trials and tribulations of putting together a research capable observatory, and discussing the why and how of supernova research.