How you can contribute to scientific discoveries from your couch

When you picture a scientist, do you see a white coat-clad PhD-holder pipetting away at a lab bench? Or maybe a skygazer with a different day job who goes out on clear nights for a good view of the stars? Historically speaking, both of those examples fit the bill. German-British astronomer William Herschel was originally an amateur who observed the night sky using homemade telescopes. He discovered Uranus in 1781, working alongside his sister, Caroline Herschel, who made multiple discoveries herself.