How do you get new people interested?

[wavelandscott]

This will sound like a "geeky" post (and it is) but I'll start it anyway...

I like learning and teaching a lot...and try to do so in a variety of different subjects, it is one of the things that I like about this forum...there is learning and teaching going on here.

I am a little "evangelical" in this I know but I think it is important to get people (especially young ones) interested and exited about learning...

My question is what do you do to get people interested in astronomy/space/science?

I'll start...I do my best to patiently involve my 2 young sons (ages almost 4 and 7) in this hobby letting them help set up, point and view when ever possible...they are thrilled at being included...yes, it takes twice as long to set up our Dob and there is a real risk of a dropped eyepiece...but, I do so enjoy watching them learn and enjoy learning that it is worth it to me...even if we crack an eyepiece or two...

[RAJAH235]

When we, the W.A.A.C.ers, put on an open night for say, the Scouts, the initial excitement is unbelievable. Something new for them to experience. The parents also share in this feeling, mostly. As mentioned lots of times, the WOW factor, when the moon is first viewed, and the craters, rills etc are seen, is really something to see on the children's/adults faces. Show them Saturn, and they can't believe it. I think if the family have the time/money? etc ,and IF the child concerned shows an ongoing interest, 2 or 3 mths.later, then it's up to the parents to see that the hobby is pursued further. This is one reason that WE suggest, as a start, to buy a planisphere and binoculars. No great cash outlay and the bino's can always be used.
Oh BTW, I always use an old MA E/Pc at open nights. As you know, kids have a habit of wanting to put their fingers on/in everything.
Regards, L. :D

[rumples riot]

Those that are interested will take to it like excrement to a blanket. For instance I was 9 when I got my first scope. Now 40 and the excitment is still there. Several people that I know have got into the hobby late in life. So all you can do is show them, if they ask questions make it as simple an answer without being condescending and if they are really interested give them guidance and let them explore for themselves.

[Mick]

I've run school nights for a few years and it is difficult to keep the interest going but if you only ever help one person to take up astronomy as a pastime by giving them the opportunity that they would not normally have then that is just the best. It is a wonderful experience showing someone new the heavens for the first time especial your sons and daughters.

[mick pinner]

A young girl named Emma aged 10 plays in my sons cricket team, her father told me she was very interested in astronomy but the telescope they bought her,114 x 900 Tasco reflector, in his words, wasn't working, and therefore her interest was wanning so l thought l would go around and have a look.
The scope wasn't collimated and the eyepieces were just rubbish, anyhow after ajustment l gave her one of my plossil eyepieces and everything was sorted, passion rekindled.
l took my 150mm refractor along as well and little Emma had a look at Saturn, Jupiter as well as the odd gas cloud and the fascination she showed made me glad to be there, if each of us sparks an interest in only one child then we have done well, if two, even better.

[toetoe]

Even tho my two sons (17 & 21) don`t seem to be interested in scoping around (so they say to me) the still come out side every now and then and ask "what are you looking at, found anything good yet, giz a look". That tells me that there is a interest in this hobby in there own way. I feel this will become a good learning tool for them both. :)

[janoskiss]

You people should be ashamed of yourselves. You are supposed to be grown men. You're out there in the middle of the night playing with your toys when you should be looking after your family! And if that wasn't enough, instead of educating your kids on what's right and proper, you're encouraging them to engage in the same sort of reckless behaviour!

Shame shame shame.
:P :P :P
:D :abduct:

[ving]

well I have tried to convert my duaghter on several diferent occassions. when i started with my 60mm refractor I couldnt get her away from it... saturn, the moon, omega cent, m42. the problem was she could only view the bright ones so mant times before it became a case of "been there done that".
she went thru a stage where she come out and watch satelites buzz over head, but that too became old.

every now and then she comes out with the lil' binoculars but thats rare.

my wife is just not interested at all. she came to one of my astro socs viewing nighta and spent the whole time in the car listening to music and arranging my CDs in alphabetical order.:P

[toetoe]

Wish my wife was a lot more keaner, cause we would have to get another scope. I get the new one and the Mrs can start with me little Tasco. That would let me go bigger & better. hehehe :)

[ballaratdragons]

Re-hashing an old thread, but a brilliant subject. My boys love astronomy! 9y.o. and 12 y.o. They even talk in here sometimes (some of you have talked with them). My 14 y.o. daughter only likes it sometimes but still goes 'WOW' at the good ol' Moon, Joop etc. Cheryl enjoys it but doesn't like the cold so it's a Summer hobby for her. My 21 y.o. daughter enjoys it when she visits.

Here is a pic I haven't put in before. My Jake patiently waiting for his sister to get away and give him a turn! (I mucked up her night vision by using a flash camera! Oops!!)

[Daring Dave]

Like many of us here I have had friends around and shown them saturn, Jup etc in my dob....The WOW factor is high but alas very few repeat visits... I just think you either take to astronomy straight away or not at all sometimes....

When my young fella was 12 he used to spend hours with me outside which gave me great pleasure thinking he was as interested as I was in the heavens...

But now that he is almost 15 and 'all grown up' :fight: all he is interested in is MSN, Chicks and how many Nissan GTR's he thinks he will own...

As for the wife she wont go outside when the temp dips below 15 C.. :eyepop:

So I guess Im on my own.....and of course my 4 legged friend...

[ballaratdragons]

Your right about the 'Lost Interest' factor Dave. It seems common.

I keep my boys interested by letting them use my dob by themselves now and they find things on their own. That's got them hooked. Their friends at school aren't very interested and my friends enjoy a quick look then that has done them for the year!

I found that if I let someone find something by themself they take the bait a bit better.

As far as my 4 legged friends, I have to lock them inside when we are viewing. They are both black and I got fed up tripping over them. Spilled many coffees because of them!

I also find that people are more likely to keep looking when I don't use scientific terms and not go on about the mathematics of it all. If I use a simple "WOW" or "ooooh, that looks good" they want to tear me away and have a look themselves. Very easy to bore people with facts and figures. A picture tells a thousands words.

[Orion]

Kids love hands on experience, it is true that they might drop an eyepiece or bump the telescope but after showing them what to do and just sitting back and watching them learn I must say I get some enjoyment out of it.
I sometimes ask them to draw me a picture of what they have seen and it's amazing what there eyes pick up that I missed. When there cousins come over it's a fight to see who will hop up onto the telescope first to draw a picture.

[ballaratdragons]

:thumbsup: Thanks Ed,

gonna try that with my boys. I'll ask them to draw what they see. Don't know why I didn't think of it before, I use to draw what I saw. :doh:

[wavelandscott]

What a great idea about having kids draw what they see! I'll add that to the list...

I got my focus tube extender this week and was itching to get the scope out to see if it solved my "out focus" issue...last night with people over for dinner I figured I had no chance of scope time...

However, after dinner (we served wife's special fajitas) they asked what the big thing in the corner was...my oldest son (7) instantly began to tell them about the scope and invited them to look through it...they seemed keen so we got the scope out for a quick cool down and a quick look see..moon, Jupiter and the Jewell Box...lots of oohs and aahs great fun was had by all...

Oh and the focus tube extender worked a treat!...the Moonlite focuser is a dream...

[elusiver]

reading in this thread with great interest as the mrs and i are expecting our first child.. can't wait to spend quality nights with my son observing(we don't know the sex yet for sure.. but my gut tells me its a boy). That's why I'm keen to get the dob asap... cause i doubt there will be any more 'toys' after the baby arrives.

el :)

[Orion]

Congratulations on the expected new arrival, I am sure you will enjoy observing with your son or daughter in the many years to come. :thumbsup:

[mick pinner]

l had the idea of trying to find people in my area that might like to get together to share an interest in astronomy so l went to the local newsagent and asked if l could put a flyer in the window seeing that anyone interested in astronomy would go to the newsagent to get their monthly magazines, Paul the owner came up with a better idea and allowed me to place a flyer in each of the magazines, the response was huge, there are so many people in the area with scopes from housewives to retired professionals with quite a wide range of expertise in different areas, all have been informed so there may be an influx of new members soon.

[Orion]

It looks like you will have your hands full now.

[ving]

well I have givven up on family.... mostly. but when we have visitors I'll whip the dob out. My mother shows interest and my brother does at times too. the various nieces and nephews like to have a look as well. but really if the interest isnt there to beging with ya cant force em. there has to be I think an interest in the unknown. :)

[Orion]

Your right Ving, there has to be an interest there but most of the times all I have to do is mention the "rings of Saturn" and people are stepping up to have a look.

[iceman]

What a great idea, Mick.. will have to speak to my local newsagent about it.

And hope to see them sign up soon! You should print out some IceInSpace pamphlets for the newsagent as well! :)

My son is interested at the moment, he likes learning about the solar system and galaxies, and likes looking through the telescope when I have it out and he's not in bed yet (he's only 6). A few times I've asked him to draw what he saw (when looking at Saturn), and it was a tell-tale circle with a ring around it :) I've also asked him to count the moons he saw, and has always been accurate.

I hope his interest continues, but like Ving said, it's not something you can force on someone.. they either like standing out in the cold looking up, or they don't :)

[ving]

once kyou have shown the big bright ones its hard to get as much enthusiasm from a faint smudge.
"Hey look its a galaxy!!!"
"you sure its not a fingerprint? Hmph! whts on TV, I'm cold"

[ballaratdragons]

Get them to find the galaxy, don't just show it to them. (unless you have boring GoTo)

Get then to find a fairly easy one like Omega Cent. Tell them it is a zillion light years away and REALLY hard to find, then when they have found it make a big fuss about beginners luck and give them another easy one like Sombrero and tell them it is even harder to find. "Really, really hard". Finding is often better than just seeing.

Isn't Psychology handy in these situations.

[ving]

got an answer for everything havent you! :P

[wavelandscott]

While I can not take credit for this idea, I am happy to try and participate in it...at my oldest son's primary school, one of the Dad's offered to host an astronomy night...the school librarian got the group access to the library and the organizer ran through a little astronomy talk before taking all of the interested kids (and parents) out for a look through a telescope or two...

This school group is what helped get my son interested in Astronomy/Space and allowed me to convince my wife that we needed "stuff" (to support our son's interest...I of course acting "unselfishly" in my role as a caring parent have had to get re-acclimated to astronomy to help him learn)

All joking aside, the act of volunteering to show the kids a little about astronomy got me back into something that I really enjoy and hopefully spills over to my kids...

Needless to say at the next asronomy night at the school we (me and 2 boys)will be there with our scope!

[ballaratdragons]

Scott,

Don't forget that your kids (cough, cough) will need a much bigger, better scope to pursue their interest in science which will enhance their future academic acheivments!

I'm sure you, oops, I mean 'they' will need the new GS 16" dob.

[Orion]

I remember a while back our astronomy club was holding monthly viewing nights at different schools around the Newcastle area. The teachers would make the kids line up behind the telescopes to have a look and the kids would have a ball! I couldn't get my telescope of the moon, they like looking at that big thing that looks like Swiss cheese.