Question Of Numbers

[FrankS]

I am doing a study on space interests in the world and was wondering if anyone here would have any knowledge of how many astronomy fans there might be in the world today? Thanks for your help in advance.
Frank

[astro_nutt]

Ooooh!..that's a toughtie!!..if you go by the number of Astronomy Clubs and Societies...I'd say in the millions!!!

Easy, 4.8 billion, every one at some time or another looks up and says "I wonder?" Some of us just do it more often than others.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Fans?

Can you elaborate please.

Hobbyists, Enthusiasts, Obsessed, Possessed, passing interest?

Astronomy only, Space in General, Astrophysics, bit of everything?

Looked thru a scope once as a kid, ditto and still love the memory, Stargazers with no scope, people who own scopes but don't use them,

It is a tough answer to give not knowing the parameters of your target area.

Almost bordering on 'How long is a piece of string"?

[FrankS]

Sorry, I'll clarify. Enthusiasts, astronomy fans who are registered in clubs or who use their scope on a regular(at least once a month) basis.

[h0ughy (David)]

there is a 1000 odd here

[ving (David)]

about 5....
how on earth (excurse the pun) do you find something like that out? telescope sales alone would not suffice!
good luck findng out

[iceman (Mike)]

Someone (roger davis?) once said there's probably around 2500 amateurs in australia. Don't know if that's accurate or not.

[ving (David)]

and even then mike one has to define amateurs... there are probably more people with telescopes than the said 2500...

[mickoking]

The national census is on this year. Make it a census question