Introducing people to astronomy

[stattonb (Statton)]

Thought it was awesome i moved to a new town and have been observing with my scope in the front yard and the amount of peoeple that have walked past or friends of friends that come around all the time and want to look thru the scope im not getting any serious observing done lol,i always love to show people and get afew people outta a bunch get interested in astronomy it always puts a smile on my face was wondering what other members do ? do ya get people coming up to you in those dark parks asking to look thru your telescope.

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Hi Statton

I usually scope from my back deck or front yard (small and fenced) - so I do not get many 'visitors'.

I do recall a time when I was set up in a park and many people came to take a look through my 8" - it was fun - what stick in my mind was a fellow who did not believe he was looking at Saturn - he kept going around to the front of the scope expecting to see a little stuck on cut out!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

When I set up in my back yard, (I live on a corner block) people driving by can see the lights from my puter and mount and will slow down and even stop to have a look at what I'm doing.
I think I'm becoming a tourist attraction at times. LOL

For the recent total lunar eclipse, I gave an impromptu viewing session to a local family who were waiting for the moon to rise.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I have lived in this house 9 years and I have seen about 5 people walk past in that time

Such is a small country town.

I always use my backyard or go up the back paddock to the clubroom.
But about 5 years ago I did happen to set up my Dob in the front yard to watch the Moonrise.

A local walked past with his dogs and asked what I was doing. I said "Just looking at the Moon with my Telescope. It looks great, do you want to see it?"

He was standing right next to the scope. He only needed to take 1 step to the left and look in the EP, yet he said "no thanks".

I said "it's right there to look at, in the eyepiece, go ahead", to which he replied "maybe some other time".

Meanwhile, he said "what's that big drum the telescope is sitting on?"

He thought the finderscope was the telescope and it was connected to some sort of metal drum (the 12" dob itself)

When I said "That big drum is the telescope" he said "Wow, what a beauty, must work good", so I said "yes it does, take a look" to which he still said "no thanks".

[stattonb (Statton)]

lol yea i live in the country (inverell) but as soon as one person seen me in the front yard with my scope i had everyone coming around wanting to look in my scope at (Saturn or the moon) lol so i make it a habit to only take out my small dob 10'' to let them view so i can get some time to mysack with me self in the back with my 16'' but do like get people interested
i laugh when people keep looking in the front of the scope when i say they are looking at saturn as they think i put a sticker on there mirror but i did the same thing when i first looked thru a scope lol.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I just don't "get" people who don't "get" it.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I just don't "get" people who don't "get" it.

A great many people "don't get it". You'd be surprised at the number of people who don't even look at the moon.

As a matter of fact a great many people don't get a lot of things.

[Draconis (Mick)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I just don't "get" people who don't "get" it.

I completely agree, i've tried to show my inlaws and friends at various times the view through the scope and been met with an underwhelmed response...it has become a solo pursuit for me and i no longer try and convert the unconvertable, I feel its sad that people dont take an interest in what surrounds this planet. People will sit and stare at the latest cooking show or Xfactor but take no interest in the night sky and i dont understand that, each to their own though...

[Benno18 (Ben)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I just don't "get" people who don't "get" it.

when people come over to look through my telescope, i make them count the amount of stars in the sky that they can see directly above their head. well an estimate.
Then when we are finished tell them to take a look up again. The response is great!!!! people are amazed at how many more they can see!!!!!

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

He was standing right next to the scope. He only needed to take 1 step to the left and look in the EP, yet he said "no thanks".

Exactly the same thing happening to me with my next door neighbour. I was looking at Saturn and he was right next to me, and the answer was the same. It was Saturn for crying out loud . For days and days I was dumbfounded why anyone would pass that up.

My mother doesn't get why I'm interested in Astronomy. She keeps asking me "why do you need to know what's up there", to which I keep responding "because it's so beautiful". But that answer isn't getting me anywhere as she constantly asks me the same question to which I have no other answer .

I have a high fence so I don't get anyone asking. The closest I get to people being in front of my yard is when there is a bunch of drunken guys fighting from all the blinking parties the house a few doors down have. They pick my front yard to have all their fights because I have a high fence I think. Try observing with that. Last night I gave up and came inside because of it.

[CraigS]

I just don't "get" people who don't "get" it.

A great many people "don't get it". You'd be surprised at the number of people who don't even look at the moon.

As a matter of fact a great many people don't get a lot of things.

Learning something new is intimidating, if one's main concerns lie with 'looking good'.

Abandon fear and 'looking good', and an entirely different world emerges !

Cheers

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I set up the 10" on a local small volcano carpark to try to spot some lower down stuff a while back. Had one young fellow ask and take a look but most of my viewing is the backyard and we're well off the street so no opportunities really.
Wife is impressed when we get Saturn or Jupiter, not so impressed with the moon funnily enough.
Although I have gotten one good friend hooked, now has a 127 MAK with GoTo but have'n't had much chance to see how and what he is doing with it. Catching up this weekend so will ask.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by CraigS

Learning something new is intimidating, if one's main concerns lie with 'looking good'.

Abandon fear and 'looking good', and an entirely different world emerges !

Cheers

For most it's not even that....it's just sheer "couldn't care less". They'd much rather live in a rut with their mindless obsessions and banal pastimes than take the time out to learn a little bit about their world and their place in it. It's precisely why the world is in the mess it is.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi,

At two places out of Sydney I take the scope to regularly with a group of old work mates, people have expressed disappointment that the view does not look the same as astro photos they have seen.

I explain that to them, and offer to let them pitch in to buy Hubble second-hand with me, and from some the reaction is "well, why bother with it then?"

However, any youngsters present are always enthusiastic about the planets, and the moon. About 1 in 10 of the adults are keen also, so we keep on

Cheers

[astroron (Ron)]

I have had the same response as Suzy, on many occasions
I had a friend and his wife here for the weekend and she was the one interested in Astronomy he just sat on the veranda drinking his stubbie (as you do ) when she asked him to come and look at Saturn through thye 8"SCT? he looked through the eye piece and said "so what"
She said you are brain dead ,go back to your beer and we spent the rest of the night observing
Cheers