[AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
- From: "Jennifer Polakis" <m24@xxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:17:26 -0700
An easily accessible Milky Way was a real spark to curiosity in science.
Science is not taught in grammar school at least not in the largest of
Phoenix's school districts.
There is actually a tremendous amount of very exciting space exploration
going on--it's just not as newsworthy as Justin Bieber or who got murdered
how.
Telescoping seems to have increasingly given way to photographing through
the telescope.
Meade scopes seemed to have a hard time with that--+sending their production
line off to another country probably didn't help. The couple of times I've
had to deal with Meade lead me to believe they had a fairly crappy business
model. On the other hand, I started out with an early 90's model 10"
Starfinder Dob. After replacing the plastic focuser and rebuilding the
collapsed dob-mount I was in heaven. It was a great affordable scope--it
lives on with my ProjectAstro teacher.
There seems to be plenty of telescope manufacturers doing ok to well. The
independent ones always have a backlog. That article was just wrong on so
many levels.
This Saturday, July 20th is the 44th anniversary of that great step for
mankind and I think Justin has a new girlfriend.
Jennifer Polakis
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Waters
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 11:33 AM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
Yep - I agree. I got my first telescope a Tasco 60mm refractor during the
Gemini program. It was a doublet, air space and all surfaces were coated
and they used glass... The first object I saw was M13. I loved that scope.
Its too bad about Meade. I had a LX200 for years. The OTA optics were OK
to good. The RA drive was another issue. Astrophotography was out of the
question.
Jim Waters
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Harshaw
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 10:32 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
I think, too, that some of the catalyst that got my generation (and yours)
into astronomy was the U. S. Space programs of the 1960's-1980's. There is
not much in the way of space exploration to excite young people these days,
and with the budget being cut everyone to try to limp by in the face of
historic and staggering debt, I see no improvement on the horizon.
Sigh. Oh, for the days of John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Neil Armstrong, Buzz
Aldrin... the people who inspired me to look upward.
And we go a 12-inch rain in Cave Creek. The drops were 12-inches apart on
my patio.
Richard Harshaw
Cave Creek, Arizona
Brilliant Sky Observatory
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jimmy Ray
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 8:27 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
Agreed on light pollution, lack of youthful interest and pretty much an
older man's interest only in that there was much interest in the 50's and
60's and now we are old...I have seen a couple of my hobbies go this way.
And I am sitting 3 miles west of Rick an received .35" of rain.
Thank you,
Jimmy Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Tejera
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 8:09 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
JD,
I agree that Light pollution is probably the culprit. They seem to be
focusing on the younger demographic, particularly teens. Well if mom or dad
isn't willing to drive 100 miles to the antennas, they're going to get
discouraged fast trying to find the stuff autostar is telling them they can
see from their backyard in Phoenix.
Speaking of the Demographic, I do wonder about their focus. I've been active
in astronomy for 17 years now and the demographic I've seen has always been
older, not younger. When I first joined SAC back in 1996 I was 36 years old
and one of the youngest members of the club.
As you said, an interesting article, but dubious speculation of fact.
Oh and my backyard Wx Station showed .01 inches of rain this afternoon.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of J. D MADDY
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 6:40 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: A sad fact
The "analysts" seem to think they know it all sometimes. Here's a quote:
"People no longer hold stargazing parties, and households that once proudly
displayed their telescopes no longer think they are trendy, analysts said."
What planet are they from? True that techie devices like I phones are
taking potential dollars away from scope sales, but they can also enhance
the experience of the night skies with their apps. I think light pollution
in the larger markets are hurting sales if anything. But, it was an
interesting article. Thanks, Eric.
JD
Clarkdale (It just rained 1 inch in 30 minutes)
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