I can't remember when my interest started as it's pretty well always been there.
Growing up in the far western suburbs (well, they were back then) of Sydney when there was NO light pollution at all, I can vividly remember looking up each night and seeing the bright Milky Way and the 2 fuzzy clouds that never blew away (SMC & LMC) back in the 60's. Then a few years later (still a kid) I witnessed a meteor shower that was what you would expect a meteor shower to look like, 2 or 3 every second for hours!!! The whole neighbouhood was sitting out in the street watching it.
Then we were confronted with the illustration of the Solar System inside the front cover of our school atlas every day we opened it, then watching Neil Armstong and Buzz Aldrin Landing & walking on the Moon (I remember feeling sorry for Collins).
Always wanting to see into space and one day go there! Unfortunately I had no access to a telescope, not even binoculars, but I studied that night sky every chance I got.
I watched a Total Solar Eclipse as a teenager, and I have seen a few Lunar eclipses.
Without ever losing interest, it wasn't until 1985 as a 28 y.o. that I got to see through a telescope for the very first time, and I built that telescope myself from parts ordered from Melbourne. It was a 114mm reflector. I was blown away!!!!
28 years of waiting!!!
20 years later I bought a 12" dob (2005). The rest you know.
I am so pleased that my kids enjoy it, and my boys are as hooked as I was at their age!
And after a lifetime of stargazing, I still don't know many constellations!!! I just look through the scope and find stuff.
