"Al" wrote in message
. ..


This just goes to show that telescope dealers are not too much different
than automobile dealers. However, in defense of the dealer, I would like
to
remind you that a woman deeply involved with astronomy is sort of rare.
Of
course there must be a fair measure of women, but I personally have not
seen
many. I can't remember seeing one woman at a star party who was not there
because her husband or boyfriend didn't her. I'm talking about a lady who
lugged her own telescope to the star party, set it up herself and remained
until the first hint of sunlight.


There are a few out there, Al. We have a couple in our small club (about
40-50 members). At least one hauls here Televue refractor out to the
Mid-Atlantic Star Party every year and camps for at least a couple of days.
Women certainly seem to be a minority in the hobby. Interestingly enough,
the two club members we've had who were also Astronomy PhD students, were
both women. Maybe women are more common among the pro ranks?

Ray