Re: High attrition rate

From: Chris L Peterson (clp_at_alumni.caltech.edu)
Date: 06/29/04 

Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 23:59:03 GMT

On 29 Jun 2004 14:14:26 -0700, khatcat@hotmail.com (BigKhat) wrote:

>I was wondering if amateur astronomy his a high attrition rate.

It depends how you define amateur astronomy. If you are asking how many people
buy astronomical telescopes and stop using them after a while, I'd have to say
the attrition rate is well over 90%. But if you ask how many people take it up
seriously enough to attend a club meeting or star party, and meet up with other
amateurs in their area, I'd say it is well under 50%, maybe 10% based on what I
see at my own club (and assuming that those who stop showing up have actually
dropped out of astronomy, which may not be the case).

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

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