Answers (1)
I'm not sure what you are asking. You can study astronomy just because you want to; you don't have to qualify and you don't need anybody's permission. Most astronomers are amateurs. Yes, they really are. You can contact one of those big telescopes and ask for a measurement and if your proposal sounds serious, they will schedule it and do it for you. The reason comets and other bodies are seen so early is that lots of amateur astronomers are watching the skies specifically looking for them. Their reward is that the comet is named after the first person to report it. You will need to be perfectly prepared in arithmetic and intimately familiar with reading charts.