that could be analyzed, and provide quantitative and open-ended qualitative information on viewpoints and attitudes.
3.2. Data Collection
A survey was created using the Google Forms tools, which was viewed as the quickest and easiest way to generate an instrument that could be broadly distributed and be compatible across many software platforms across the world. The survey questions are shown in the appendix. As the goal was to “take the pulse” of the amateur astronomy community as broadly as possible, and to allow for some level of analysis, the survey asked several key demographic questions: the primary type of observing of the respondent (visual, astrophotography, both); the level of participation in research activities; and the home country. Questions asked about the degree to which the observing activities of the respondent were impacted by satellite constellations, and the degree to which these satellites affected their appreciation of the night sky (each using a 5-level Likert scale). Open-ended questions for comments and a totally optional opportunity to supply an email address completed the survey.
The link to the survey generated by Google Forms was posted on as many sites and distributed as widely as we could to reach a broad constituency of amateur astronomers across the world. The distribution was as follows:
- The website and Facebook page of the Mountains of Stars public science education and outreach program[1]
- Through the Night Sky Network, posted by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific both in their newsletter and on their social media sites
- Through the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), via their online Forum and social media
- Posted to the Astronomical League for distribution to member clubs
- Posted to the Cloudy Nights online forum
- The e-mail lists of several astronomy clubs, including the Springfield Telescope Makers and the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston.
In each case, the postings also asked recipients to further distribute the survey link as broadly as possible.
As of this writing (19 August 2021) some 564 responses from 37 countries have been collected. A breakdown of respondents is summarized in Figure 3.
