National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers was created in 1967.
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh was created in 1929.
amateur astronomers and astronomers
National Amateur Cup was created in 1923.
National Amateur Rowing Association was created in 1890.
National Amateur Bodybuilders Association was created in 1950.
England national amateur football team ended in 1974.
There is no such thing as an "unskilled astronomer". You can be an amateur astronomer if you have an interest in astronomy; you can even build your own telescope, and make important astronomical observations. And most of the comet hunters are amateur astronomers; the "real" professional astronomers don't bother to search for comets, because they know that so many of us "amateur astronomers" and hobbyists are looking. Obviously, an amateur astronomer doesn't get paid; outside of university settings, there are very few professional astronomers who get paid to do astronomical work.
This might be true more for amateur astronomers than for professionals. Professional astronomy is less dependent on that than they used to be. Astronomers deal with data that comes from radio telescopes and from other very sophisticated hardware.
Mostly 'horoscope readers' and suchlike- I assure you, they have no scientific significance whatsoever, they just make stars easier to locate for amateur astronomers.
The same reason why people name anything - to distinguish between them. Comets are named with the year of discovery, a serial number, and the discoverer's name. Most "comet hunters" are amateur astronomers who live for the fleeting fame of having discovered a comet; being an "amateur comet hunter" isn't a job that pays anything. The fame of having a comet named for them is their only reward.
No Amateur Golfer has ever won The Masters at Augusta National.
Amateur Crook - 1937 is rated/received certificates of: USA:Passed (National Board of Review) USA:Approved (PCA #3869)