Over the past several years, many amateur astronomers have noticed a decline in the number of people participating in the hobby of stargazing. While this decline is not caused by a lack of interest in space, it is more of a general lack of understanding about how to get involved in amateur astronomy. With so many immediate-gratification entertainment options available to folks through their TV, computer, or hand-held device, it can easily be argued that the traditional approach of learning the night sky through observation is losing relevance among younger people. New creative approaches and a dedicated outreach effort are required in order to educate the next generation about space science. The Astronomy Outreach Foundation (AOF) was recently formed to provide an understanding of our hobby to a wider audience, and to stimulate greater public interest in astronomy.
We recently had an opportunity to converse with AOF Board member Vic Maris, here's what he had to say:
How can someone get involved?
Go to our website www.astronomyoutreachfoundation.org and sign up as a new member.
Orion Telescopes and Binoculars is proud to be a founding member and sponsor of AOF.