What first interested you in astronomy?

[thebigcat]

Things that stick out in my mind: Born in Oct 64, I was not yet 5 when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon, but my early years were filled with images of majestic Saturn V rockets and Tang commercials (I LMAO at the ep of <i>That '70s Show</i> where Ashton Kutcher's character looked up from the magazine he was reading to announce to the gang "Those astronauts must really be popular with the ladies, because it says here that they get all the Tang they want.), watching Jerry Lewis in <i>The Reluctant Astronaut</i> and Larry Hagman in <i>I Dream Of Genie</i> (An astronaut <b>and</b> he has a hot babe granting his every wish. What a guy.)<br /><br />But two things that really stand out. The first must have been Apollo 16, maybe 15. There was something that was reflecting the sunlight very close to the moon, probably a fragment of the LM housing which had been jettisoned earlier, IIRC. That was to me a tangible, visible sign that they really were up there. The other was during the skylab mission and listening to my teacher fail miserably at trying to explain how and why the first mission crew were trying to deploy a stuck sunshield which told me that I could not depend on my teachers to help me learn what I wanted to know about space. That I would have to be sure that I knew where to look to find things. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

I was a rural Michigan farm boy who lived under very dark skies, so the view had a lot to do with it. Add to that being a science geek who built a Newtonian telescope as his 5th grade science fair project & you can figure out the rest <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

Born in 1949 and grew up in Central Florida. Need I say more? I've been watching rocket launches all my life so my interest in astronomy was related to wondering what all those points of light really were. I took an astronomy course in college and briefly thought about astronomy as a profession since I like to stay up all night anyway. When I watched "2001 a Space Odessy" I so hoped and expected that we would have the things we saw in the movie in place by now.<br /><br />Now I'll be lucky to still be alive the next time a man (or woman) walks on the moon. It's somewhat dissappointing that the early momentum could not be maintained, but I realize now that until there is a profitable reason to get off this planet we'll just have to settle for watching our robots do our exploring for us. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Sky watching is fascinating.Sirius was my first love.

 

[mooware]

I'd say it was Apollo 13. I was about 7 or 8, and remember hearing about this on the news, and I remember asking my father about what was going to happen to the astronauts.<br />

 

[dragon04]

Nothing really "got me interested" in Astronomy. Space stuff was always just there for as long as I can remember.<br /><br />It was the mid '60's, and from toddler on up, my parents bought me toy rockets and space books. <br /><br />I think the fact that when I was about 5, and started reading my grandparents' encyclopedia set facilitated and encouraged the interest.<br /><br />Astronomy was in the "A" volume. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

I woner and think how premive men saw the moon moving relative to stars and named constellations.And moon was their main souce of light at night.

 

[thamior]

Well, for me I guess I first got interested when I was about 4 or 5. I had wanted to be a pilot ever since my first flight in a plane, so I studied weather, space, and aeronautics. Space, was soon all I studied, which led to Astrophysics, which led to other branches of physics. I just love all of it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>--What is the truth but a wisp of truly un-attainable information.  There is no absolute truth anyways, only false perceptions and misgivings.--     </p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

I was born on July 10th 1969. So, my birthdays coincided with the build up to the anniversary of Apollo 11 throughout the years. I was always quite proud of being born around that time. I always felt a special attachment to the moon landings. One of my first memories is also of a Saturn 5 rocket my dad made for me.<br /> <br />Although we only had bino's, not a telescope my dad showed me the night sky regularly too, we watched every meteor shower. <br /><br />for me it's a mixture of the above and.....<br /><br />Patrick Moore - A great man. <br /><br />The Viking Landers - i visited London's science museum as the first colour images came back, and saw a huge display of Viking sat on a mock Martian surface, surrounded by those first colour views. As a child it blew me away. I've been fascinated by Mars ever since. <br /><br />Star Trek! - The Captian Kirk re-runs, in my childhood years. <br /><br />And probably most of all, Voyager's Grand Tour.<br /><br />One thing i will say, i am not from a nerdy background. I did get strange looks from friends over the years when hints of my fascination for space would creep through. If you like i was a closet astronomer/space enthusiast. <br /><br />One day i decided to not be a sheep any more. I found Mars and astronomy more interesting than football, and bars, and i was not going to hide it! End result i grew apart from my circle of friends. But have my wife now and family, who are my best friends any way. I have these wonderful things in my life, family, astronomy, and the exploration of space.<br /><br />Oh, i still love Cricket though!<br /><br />Anth<br />http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth<br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[methanebubbles]

I think it was the Rose Center at AMNH that intrigued me. Not long after i first visited, I started reading articles and books on astronomy. I still like to go there on a regular basis. I have a rather primitive telescope too, but i can't see much thanks to my very populous neighbor (NYC) which pretty much drowns out everything out with light and pollution. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> and we are all undeniably selfish. </div>

 

[alokmohan]

I first got interested when I was about 4 or 5. I had wanted to be a pilot ever since my first flight in a plane, so I studied weather, space, and aeronautics Dont lose heart.Try black hole now.It is getting intereresting more and more.I am the owner of a black hole.

 

[alokmohan]

Very remarkable birth day.

 

[alokmohan]

Also saturn and beyond by Asimov.

 

[phaze]

Star Wars.

 

[enigma10]

When i was 7 years old, in Alaska, looking up at the deepest clearest night sky, with the occasional flicker of the northern lights in the distance and the flicker of a shooting star or 2, and wondering when can i go visit.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Thed! Now there's another original old-timer from here. I remember him very well. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[brellis]

born on this day - April 10 - in 1963. Suddenly, I'm 44, yikes!<br /><br />I was interested in astronomy as a teen, drawn to the sci fi works of Asimov. I dodged science in h.s. and college, but in adulthood, I've been gradually getting my feet wet in the physical sciences. <br /><br />SDC has been a great place for me to learn. for example, every time borman makes a post, I have to look up half the words, but i enjoy immersing myself in this way. i always look forward to my SDC time! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

<i>I don't need no instruments.</i><br /><br />"You've broken my instrumentality. I'll make you pay for that!" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Ooh. You got the reference. Way cool. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[llad]

As I was born in 1952, the wonder books of science were the thing for me. Mars, at that time, was believed to have lichen on its surface which caused the color change in seasons. I could recite the planets in order at the age of six. <br /><br />My fascination has never ebbed ... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[kirti_astronomer]

i dont really remember what made me choose astronomy as my favourite subject but whatever it is i am happy about it because whenever i think about it i feel a kind of enthusiasm i never had before

 

[docm]

My parents bought me every How and Why Wonder book they could find, and they had a major impact. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Asimov brought me to astronomy.