Scientific procedure patent?

[abraham90]

Hi,
If I have a new method to deduce astronomical distances, which is not published yet. How could it be covered by Patent/ Trademark/ Copyright? Would it be covered under Patent or Copyright? If I file it in US as International Patent/ Copyright, how much would it cost me, in both the cases I hire a lawyer or I file it myself?
Thanks in advance.

[arber47]

Why? How do you intend to enforce your patent? Will you run after every astronomer who uses your method?

If you haven't thought that through, I'd be very surprised if you actually have a patentable method.

Edit: if all you are trying to do is gain credit, you find a reputable scientific journal that will publish a paper or at least a letter. Personally I'd like to see how you think this works, the idea of a 'logical' method of determining distance doesn't make a lot of sense.

[eilis]

You don't patent or copyright it. That's the wrong way of doing things. You publish your method in a peer-reviewed scientific journal before anybody else does. That way you get credit for the method, everybody will have to cite your method if they want to use it themselves, and you'll get the Nobel and other prizes if your idea is significant enough.