Interesting article

[PeterM]

Talks mostly about Meade's possible future and where amateur astronomy has been heading as a hobby. Encouragingly if it amateur astronomy is presented well to the public then telescope sales skyrocket.


http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-76563067/

[04Stefan07]

Great article, it's a shame seeing such a well known company and pioneer in their industry in financial trouble.

[bigjoe]

Meade could indirectly be saved by a "handsome professor'.

Well, the one and only Carl Sagan helped lift the cause of astronomy worlwide.

Now its up to Cox and NDT.

PS: COX is on his way to Sydney.:)

[barx1963]

The demographics of the astronomy community is definitely much older these days, which as the article says is impacting on sales. S&T had an editorial on ths issue in their latest US edition. We see this at star parties and in the people on forums are mostly 50+.
Not sure there is a solution, I know when I talk to others about my astro interest, 90% of people display a range of reactions from indifference/incomprehension to actual outright hostility. One friend of mine's reaction was "Well, what do you get out of it?" meaning he couldn't understand why I would spend so much time on a hobby which couldn't reap financial rewards. (this from someone who will spend hours watching cars go in circles!!).
A few have as mentioned have reacted with actual hostility, querying my motives and sanity.:shrug:
Given this sort of experience, no wonder the market for telescopes is shrinking.

Malcolm

[JB80]

Hey, I'm under 50 although don't feel like it so much this morning :p :D

It's a very UScentric article but it still highlights some very good points.

The Meade sale aside I have mentioned in a few posts before the effect of Stargazing Live on the UK public and industry and it is a real boom. In Europe if you want to buy any gear around the time the show airs it really is best to get in before hand because retailers are run off their feet afterwards and stock levels disappear.
I have also seen much cynical critisism(not the majority thankfully) of the so called "Cox effect" amongst astronomers which in my opinion doesn't do amature astronomy any favours.

I have always said if you put a similar show on a major network like 7, 9, 10 in Oz you would see a similar boost in interest and the retailers would go into meltdown if not properly prepared.
Why not, the UK based ratings speak for themselves and same goes for Sky at Night. How I would of loved a show like that on our screens growing up.

I think it's not only up to the media to present our past time in a good light but all of us no matter what level we are at, if you can get one new person looking through a telescope then that is great.
Thankfully there are excellent online communities like IIS full of amazing members to encourage the next generation of stargazers.

The other thing I'd like to pick up on is the Amazon connection, while it's good people are increasing their interest I'm certain they would be better served purchasing from specialist retailers. Still, beggars can't be choosers.