People who "dont" get Astronomy

[that_guy]

I know theres a discussion about this in another thread but i wanted to start a new one and discuss why people dont get astronomy. My friend at school asked me why i bother wasting thousands of dollars on gear just to look at some fuzzy patch thats already been discovered and observed... i always respond to, why do you play guitar when someone with better equipment and better talent played the same music your playing? and my brother always says, why do you waste money on all this crap when you can look at it on the internet? " thats like saying why do you play music when you can listen to it?" they are always speechless after that... haha
and my other friend says "wats the point of studying space at all? it doesnt affect us directly" and i respond "wats the point of studying evolution and archeology when it doesnt affect us directly?" again, speechless respond haha but they always always ask me over and over again... i just dont get them???

cheers
tony

[mental4astro]

Hi Tony,

You may be aware that 'amateur' astronomy is the only relm of professional science where amateurs actually make a definite contribution to the pool of knowledge.

The majority of comets, asteroids, supernovae, etc. are actually made by amateurs. Collectively amateurs have more eyes on the sky than the professionals do. Most of the above now carry amateur's names :D .

As an example, there is one particular fellow here on IIS whose work on Saturn is intergral to several universities planetary work. His work has been invaluble to confirm observations carried out by the Cassini probe, and to first set eyes on new features such as storms, only then confirmed in turn by Cassini!

As to 'not getting' it, that is a hairy one. I've even had ASIO set on me by some poor ignoramus who refused to believe my TRUSS dob was a telescope, not a "suspicious device". I know it's a telescope. You know it's a telescope. Most people only think of a telescope as a brass refractor used by pirates. REALLY!

Alas astronomy has a bad rap as being "rocket science stuff", so most folks immediately set up a mental block.

[that_guy]

haha you got that right alex :P but its really sad how people are more skeptic about telescopes and astronomy than they are astrology and star signs :shrug:

[Steffen]

Really?? I've got to sign up to one of those advanced celestial body making classes... :rofl:

(sorry, couldn't resist :P :lol:)

Cheers
Steffen.

[jjjnettie]

I really dislike the automatic assumption that I use my scope to look through windows. :mad2:

[Steve Heaton]

Yeah tried that but found all the peoples clothes stayed on even though they were upside down

[that_guy]

hmm maybe a different bandwidth filter ;)

[tlgerdes]

I like the quote from Men In Black

"A person is smart................... People, are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it"

:lol:

[Ric]

I used to try and explain astronomical things to people at work but always met with strange looks and a round of Uranus jokes.

Now I just don't bother unless they come to me with a question.

[ballaratdragons]

Tony, just tell them that when an asteroid crashes into Earth, the first they will know of it is when their arse is a waft of ash blown into the atmosphere.

But you on the other hand with your wacky useless hobby of Astronomy will atleast enjoy the views of seeing it coming for months, and probably even photograph it :thumbsup:

:P :lol:

I have no idea why people just don't get it.

[bartman]

I hear you Tony!
I had to think hard about justifying $1000's just to capture pics that somebody has already done and posted on the net.

But it is the challenge and the gratification you get when getting those shots yourself! Like you said - playing a guitar to make music......one day they may become a rockstar........doing astronomy may one day get you a comet or asteroid or SN named after you!!!!:eyepop:

Bartman

[OneOfOne]

I always think that astronomy is about the only hobby where people are likely to be interested in having a look.....

"wan't to see my new stamp from Botswana?"..., "sorry, is it that late..."

"I am practising my guitar tonight, wan't to come and listen", 'na, I have a headache"

"what do you think of my new Ming Chinese vase?"...."looks like a guzunda!"

I know what you mean though.

[CraigS]

So rather than: "Why don't other people get it ?"

"Why do you get it ?" ...



Apart from challenge and gratification, is it about achieving immortality ?...



(Just wondering.)

For me, understanding the concepts behind how the universe works, is my passion.
Images just aren't satisfying enough for me … actually, at times, the images just frustrate me if I can't understand what they're showing.

Sometimes, I feel alone in this …

Cheers
PS: Please don't misunderstand me …. I fully appreciate and respect everything everyone does when it comes to visual and imaging. There are some very deep feelings we all share, I think. Others also share the similar deep feelings .. about other issues. That's what makes us human ..

[mental4astro]

Hey! that's what I've been led to believe from the various publications that supposedly serve our hobby, :shrug: :lol: :rolleyes: :question:

Sheesh, try to up lift some bloke's spirit, and you all come running with a pin! :lol:

[lacad01]

Good come-backs Tony :) The same questions could be directed at nearly any kind of hobby or pastime, I don't really worry if people think it's a waste of time or money, there could be far worse things to waste time and money on that give momentary satisfaction. Life's too short to be concerned about what other people think and I'm in constant awe of the wonders of this amazing universe. :)

[Trixie]

I have been lucky that most people are really interested when I mention astronomy.

Then again, maybe they are just greatful I am not boring them with palynology for once!

[ZeroID]

Do you think that the whole concept of 'SPACE' intimidates or even threatens some peoples ideas ? It can be pretty frightening when you think about it's immensity as an actuality. It's just so .... BIG!! :eyepop:

I think also that the names, weird designations and hieroglyphics of Astronomy and the jargon is just too much for some. There is a lot of crossover in this hobby and you need to have a number of skills in optics, photography:camera:, physics:atom:, computers:bashcomp:, software, engineering, electronics, chemistry:einstein:, woodworking, construction .. ... :work:

Hmm, I think I just defined why I LIKE astronomy ....:question:

(Sorry about all the icons, just couldn't resist :P )

[AdrianF]

I usually get "found ET yet?" and what a waste of money, this usually by people who think that going to the pub every night spending their money only to see it go down the drain is ok

Adrian

[ballaratdragons]

:rofl:

I wonder who sees the most stars, or is more 'Spacey' :lol:

[shelltree]

:lol: Some people will just never understand.

For me, I couldn't imagine not knowing or not wanting to know what's out there. It's our origin, our home and the reason we are. How could anyone not be completely awe struck by that prospect!? Plus I don't think people 'get' that these "fuzzy blobs" are in fact galaxies, nebula or globular clusters many thousands of light years away! I mean, that just blows me away. That I am looking at a view from thousands of years ago is phenomenal and makes me giddy. It's the experience of seeing these things for yourself, witnessing and learning what they represent, what they are made of and what they will eventually become.

And maybe people just see it as a hobby, a way to pass the time on a clear night when there is nothing better on tv but it is so much more than that. It's about discovery, it's about documenting what we see and feel and how we fit in to the shaping of the universe. Could it be that we don't explain this to people adequately enough and therefore they don't understand the money and effort spent?

My rambling 2c :D

[ZeroID]

Yep, what he said ..... as well

[Suzy]

Very nicely put Shelley.;) I'm with Brent, what she said. :lol:

[telecasterguru]

Personally, I do astronomy because I love it.

I also play guitars and record stupid songs that I write because I love it.

Everyone has to have a hobby for the day time and a hobby for the night time.

Frank

[cybereye]

Is hay fever a problem for a Palynologist? ;)

As for astronomy, I get a lot of positive feedback, and questions, when I show people the images that I've taken. Most don't realise that these things are up in the sky and I often get asked if I can see these things from my backyard.

Other questions include:
"Do you see those colours?"
"How far away is it?"
"What is it?"
"What's it made of?"

To be honest I think the school system puts very little into the teaching of Astronomy and the same can be said for Geology. I don't know why because as far as I'm concerned they're both more interesting than Biology!!

Anyway, just thought I'd jump on the soap-box. Time to hop off now!

Cheers,
Mario

[renormalised]

Ditto:):)

The textbooks that have anything of geology or astronomy in them that they use is high schools are absolutely woeful. Factual errors all through them and badly written. You can tell they were written by "stock standard" science teachers and not experts in the fields, or at least teachers with experience in those fields.

[Rodstar]

I am surprised by the negativity that so many have experienced about our Noble Hobby.

Pretty much everyone I tell is interested at least a little bit. Most guys my age that I tell express the wish that they had an interest like I do which is so interesting. About 1 in 5 people I tell express a wish to come along some time to observe with me; I have hosted heaps of newbies at observing nights in my backyard or at a more public event, as a result of our conversation. Three different social groups I have been involved with over the years have had me run observing nights to introduce people to the night sky.

The one person who truly does not get it is my wife. But: she hates the cold, she likes to socialise rather than be alone, she lacks patience, she processes her thoughts externally (meaning she likes to talk a lot rather than quietly look/observe), and scientific endeavour per se does not interest her. I am rather glad; it means that I can do my own thing, choose my own EPs etc without her having an opinion. And, she is really happy that I have something in my life that makes me so happy.

The one thing that bugs me a bit when talking about astronomy is the number of times people mix up astronomy with astrology. I try to gently educate, but most who believe in astrolo-quackery glaze over!

[jimmywrangles]

My friends don't mind my astronomy hobby, but then I used to catch snakes for fun so they probably think I'm much less likely to wind up in hospital after getting bitten by a dobsonian.:D

[erick]

My dobsonian has big teeth - keeps taking big chunks out of my bank account! :help:

[The_bluester]

A big dob could blow over in the wind and squash you. Imagine writing up the coroners report for death by a 25" Obsession or SDM!

[Rodstar]

If you attempt to observe in conditions like that, you deserve all the negative consequences which follow.:lol:

[Octane]

Hardcore amateurs? : P

H

[mental4astro]

Hey, now there's an opportunity to get sponsorship for:-

"The Red Bull Extreme Amateur Astronomy!"

* nuddie Obs in extreme conditions- mozzie laiden swamp, blizzards, sand storms

* most highly processed image of M42

* biggest scope carried on back up Mt Kilamanjaro, do Messier Marathon and backdown in less than 24hrs.

* "wet shroud" contest ;) :P that'll get pulses racing!

[pgc hunter]

I'll enter the wet shroud contest :thumbsup:

It should be noted that no CGI, photoshopping or Melbourne Cloud guts were used in these images. This is 100% genuine ;)

[shelltree]

LOL, this has made my day :D

[alistairsam]

I get ribbed at by my co-workers mostly for the nasa moon landing conspiracy. they are so blinded by their shortsightedness that they refuse to apply logic and reason and look at the "why nots" instead of the "not possible".

then there are those who fail to see the point in exploring our universe, but then they're the same bunch who believe that a passenger airliner can "hover" in mid air waiting for a runway to be free, and not that its because youre in a car travelling toward the plane and its classic relative motion.

and of course the classic astrology and astronomy assumption, then the "aliens are looking right back at you".

but if we have reforms in school content or things like NASA where they take a massive rocket all around the country to schools so kids get "excited" by science and space, we'd have a lot more general awareness and maybe even help reduce light pollution.

I love how they have programs in schools to talk to the astronauts in the ISS as it flies overhead using radios.
the behind the scenes sections of nasa's spaceflight site is very inspirational with stories of how these people were awe struck by the stars and space at night when they were kids.