Re: The aging of the amateur

From: Jan Owen (janowen1z_at_cox.net)
Date: 11/06/04 

Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2004 14:47:57 -0700

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" <polakisgroups@cox.net> wrote in message
news:opsg150fii9a1vn4@news.west.cox.net...
> On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 13:26:44 -0500, RichA <none@none.com> 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