The aging of the amateur

This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on
average. At first I thought it was because young
people were not coming into the hobby. A shot of
a RASC crowd in Sky and Tel seemed to point this
out. Most of the people were in their 40s to 60s.
However, it is possible that the average hobbyist
today is older because more older people are entering
the hobby. There is a generation of people in that
age group who are pursuing amateur astronomy, I know
of about a dozen personally who didn't get into astronomy
until they hit their 40s.
So the question is, is there any way to ascertain
if young people are joining the hobby in fewer numbers?
Are the scope sellers selling at the bottom end
more scopes simply because of continued price drops,
making the lowest scopes into "impulse items"
or has the hobby grown in people numbers over the
last 20 years and that's what is driving the increased
sales of telescopes? From what I can tell, older hobbyist
entrants do not buy cheap 60mm refractors for the most part.
They tend to buy (at a minimum) a decent Dob or ETX.
Much like (I presume) when they enter other hobbies such
as bird watching. They don't buy a $30 pair of binos
from Sears, they purchase something decent.

"RichA" wrote in message
...
This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on
average.

I'm not.

At first I thought it was because young
people were not coming into the hobby. A shot of
a RASC crowd in Sky and Tel seemed to point this
out. Most of the people were in their 40s to 60s.
However, it is possible that the average hobbyist
today is older because more older people are entering
the hobby. There is a generation of people in that
age group who are pursuing amateur astronomy, I know
of about a dozen personally who didn't get into astronomy
until they hit their 40s.
So the question is, is there any way to ascertain
if young people are joining the hobby in fewer numbers?

Contact Sky & Tel and Astronomy and ask for their ad or editorial
department. They should have reader surveys with demographics, and of course
age is a prime demo.

Bob

RichA wrote:
This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on
average. At first I thought it was because young
people were not coming into the hobby. A shot of
a RASC crowd in Sky and Tel seemed to point this
out. Most of the people were in their 40s to 60s.
However, it is possible that the average hobbyist
today is older because more older people are entering
the hobby. There is a generation of people in that
age group who are pursuing amateur astronomy, I know
of about a dozen personally who didn't get into astronomy
until they hit their 40s.
So the question is, is there any way to ascertain
if young people are joining the hobby in fewer numbers?
Are the scope sellers selling at the bottom end
more scopes simply because of continued price drops,
making the lowest scopes into "impulse items"
or has the hobby grown in people numbers over the
last 20 years and that's what is driving the increased
sales of telescopes? From what I can tell, older hobbyist
entrants do not buy cheap 60mm refractors for the most part.
They tend to buy (at a minimum) a decent Dob or ETX.
Much like (I presume) when they enter other hobbies such
as bird watching. They don't buy a $30 pair of binos
from Sears, they purchase something decent.

I got interested in astronomy in high school in the 60s, but dropped my
interest in college (too much time needed for schoolwork, no money for
a scope). I did the Army thing, got out, wound up married with a family
and got a Master's degree in there somehow. I didn't buy a scope (baby
NexStar) until the kids were out of the nest, in my early 50s. The
interest was still there but the money wasn't until recently.

--
Pat O'Connell
[note munged EMail address]
Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but vandals...

On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 13:26:44 -0500, RichA wrote:

This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on average...

They are. take a look at the story that begins on p. 82 of the September
2000 S&T. Between 1979 and 1998 the U.S. median age went from 30 to 32
years while the S&T subscriber median age went from 35 to 48. The story
offers plausible explanations. I think it has everything to do with
proximity to a dark sky, and countless other urban and suburban
distractions offered to Generation X-and Y-ers.

Tom

"Tom Polakis" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 13:26:44 -0500, RichA wrote:

This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on average...

They are. take a look at the story that begins on p. 82 of the September
2000 S&T. Between 1979 and 1998 the U.S. median age went from 30 to 32
years while the S&T subscriber median age went from 35 to 48. The story
offers plausible explanations. I think it has everything to do with
proximity to a dark sky, and countless other urban and suburban
distractions offered to Generation X-and Y-ers.

Tom

....not to mention the decline in science education. One example, recent: a
town in Wisconsin, my home state, I'm embarassed to say, has just decided
that "alternates" to evolution can be taught in its public schools.
According to the newspaper article, it is the only community in the United
States that allows the teaching of other theories.

Bob

They are. take a look at the story that begins on p. 82 of the
September
2000 S&T. Between 1979 and 1998 the U.S. median age went from 30 to 32
years while the S&T subscriber median age went from 35 to 48. The story
offers plausible explanations. I think it has everything to do with
proximity to a dark sky, and countless other urban and suburban
distractions offered to Generation X-and Y-ers.

Tom

...not to mention the decline in science education. One example, recent: a
town in Wisconsin, my home state, I'm embarassed to say, has just decided
that "alternates" to evolution can be taught in its public schools.
According to the newspaper article, it is the only community in the United
States that allows the teaching of other theories.

Well that's okay if it is theory but a bible thumpin' EXPLANATION of
everything
is not a theory.

Also, the older demographic has a penchant for picking up where they left
off
in the 60's and '70's. Also , many have waited for technology and price to
get better I think. I still find myself hanging on for the perfect scope. I
am
not one to rush out and be apart of the DOB crowd. I just cringe at the
thought.
We are a more demanding lot and we want all bases covered.

Dunno' 'bout all that, but I know I'm definitely a LOT older now than when
I got started in amateur astronomy closing on 40 years ago... And there
are others here who, like me, aren't getting any younger...

NO doubt about it, we're ALL aging. What I worry most about, though, is
the NEW folks.

I hope we can all find a way to help them find the answers they are
looking for to help them find the same solace in the stars that WE olden
folk have found...
--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.662
Longitude: -112.3272

"Tom Polakis" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 13:26:44 -0500, RichA wrote:

This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
to be older than they were 20 years ago, on average...

They are. take a look at the story that begins on p. 82 of the
September
2000 S&T. Between 1979 and 1998 the U.S. median age went from 30 to 32
years while the S&T subscriber median age went from 35 to 48. The story
offers plausible explanations. I think it has everything to do with
proximity to a dark sky, and countless other urban and suburban
distractions offered to Generation X-and Y-ers.

Tom

"RichA" wrote:
This is something I can't quite pin down.
A few years ago, I noticed that amateurs seemed
snip

Rich,

Do you ever find time to observe?

Clear Skies,
John

I hope we can all find a way to help them
find the answers they are looking for to
help them find the same solace in the
stars that WE olden folk have found...
--
Jan Owen

Well said, Jan. There's no doubt about it that there are fewer young
folks getting interested in amateur astronomy. Many of the probable
reasons have been touched on in this thread, but I'm not sure which are
the most important. I'd like to die knowing that I got SOMEONE
interested in watching the night sky. It's a hobby that becomes a
lifestyle, and it makes one's life better.
Marty

On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 14:47:57 -0700, "Jan Owen"
wrote:

Dunno' 'bout all that, but I know I'm definitely a LOT older now than when
I got started in amateur astronomy closing on 40 years ago... And there
are others here who, like me, aren't getting any younger...

NO doubt about it, we're ALL aging. What I worry most about, though, is
the NEW folks.

I hope we can all find a way to help them find the answers they are
looking for to help them find the same solace in the stars that WE olden
folk have found...


Our RASC Centre has seen a major resurgance over the last five years.
Our membership growth and (Yahoooo!) executive participation in those
under 35 has been nothing short of astounding. When I first joined 6
or so years ago, meetings consisted of +/- 30 middle-aged white males,
usually the same faces month-over-month. Today, we have between 80-100
folks per meeting, and there are so many youth members! The number of
active observers has grown, as evidenced by usage at our observatory
and the number of requests for keys that I receive from eligible
members. Our executive has focused on cultivating the interested youth
as active participants in the Centre, and it's paying dividends.

Share your knowledge and talk TO the kids, not AT them, and let them
actively partipate in events and decisions within the club. Do that,
and you'll be amazed at the energy that they provide and the new
friendships that develop.

Cheers,

- Craig

Craig Levine
Observing Chairman,
RASC, Halifax Centre
www.halifax.rasc.ca