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Man Versus Machine: Eye Estimates in the Age of Digital Imaging

Astronomical observing has been greatly simplified by the development and implementation of digital imaging techniques and remote observing. Aperture photometry of CCD data permits photometric measurements to be made routinely with uncertainties of a few hundredths of a magnitude or better. The question of whether there is still a place in modern observational astronomy for simple eye estimates of brightness is considered. Examples of recent uses of eye estimates are presented. Suggestions for when eye estimates should be avoided and when they are still worthwhile are offered. The reactions to these suggestions by the conference audience are summarized.