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Subject: Re: [M]: OT: Otter Creek Star Party - public interest
From: Paul Hettrick
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Wed Sep 17 00:26:06 1997

Hi all,

I'm just getting back into astronomy after a break of about fifteen years
(university study, work, business, marriage, children, etc...etc...). My
last activities were in my high school astronomy club which I helped form.
One experience that stands out was at a public viewing night on a school
open day. I was both surprised and pleased when a few students who were
not normally interested in science and who were usually rather unruly and
disruptive in class took a genuine interest in the most visible subjects at
hand - namely Jupiter and it's moons and Saturn. Their normally
contemptuous attitude toward anything scientific/academic was replaced by a
genuine sense of awe at what they were looking at.

I don't think any of them carried on with the interest after the event,
however you never know what seeds you may sew!

Cheers,
Paul Hettrick