How many amateur astronomers are there?

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I would guess that the number would be in excess of 500,000...and not quibble about terms like active viewers, telescope owners and enthusiast etc.

The world has several Billion people, it does not take a very big percentage of people to be in a hobby to add up quick...

[SkyViking (Rolf)]

I've always found it odd that Astronomy is one of those things that fascinates nearly everyone I come across, but still very few people care to actually learn something about it. Almost everyone enjoy seeing the stars at night and as such it's a very accessible pass-time, but still so few go on to pursue this interest?

I guess this little blue speck of a planet is enough for them

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by SkyViking

I've always found it odd that Astronomy is one of those things that fascinates nearly everyone I come across, but still very few people care to actually learn something about it. Almost everyone enjoy seeing the stars at night and as such it's a very accessible pass-time, but still so few go on to pursue this interest?

I guess this little blue speck of a planet is enough for them

I think that it interferes with their TV watching.

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi All,

Just how much active interest does a person need to display to be defined as an AA?
My Grandson of 9, can name all the planets in the solar system. (A feat he achieved when he was 7.)

Grandson and father will get up at 2 or 3 AM to view meteor showers.
They don't own a telescope.

Is that enough to call them as AAs?

I'm sure there are many people like that. Including my daughter, who used to get up at 3AM to watch meteors.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Hmmmm . . . let's see.

I personally know about 90 AA's.

I talk online in here with about another 40 or so,
I talk in Cloudy Nights to about another 40 AA's all around the world.
And I know there are many thousands registered in Astro forums around the world.

So using that as a guide, my guess would be 1,123,182 practicing dedicated, semi-dedicated and part-time/enthusiast AA's worldwide including naked eye stargazers.

approximately

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I reckon I'd have around 2000 amateur astronomers from across the globe as FB friends. Every day I'll add a couple more.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I reckon I'd have around 2000 amateur astronomers from across the globe as FB friends. Every day I'll add a couple more.

That's funny. While you keep adding friends, two days ago I deleted all my friends except two.
And one of the remaining two is my sister.

Just too much clutter with all those people posting dribble every hour of every day

[Lester]

Good question Paul, but unfortunately such a simple question does Not have a simple answer, till one can define what criteria are required to be called a A.A.

Am I a A.A. just because I enjoy photographing the night sky? If so then my family is also in with some of their freinds that enjoy viewing my images. So if the latter, then the number world wide would be in the 500,000 plus number. Just think of the outback third world people that have no TV/ electricity, that have nothing else to do after sunset but look up at the sky.

So please can someone define a A.A.?