Over the years when I’ve spoken with many other amateur astronomers about their interest in the sky most have said that it could be traced back to receiving their first telescope at Christmastime.
While it is true that many have been "hooked" for life by viewing the wonders of the sky through their first scope, it is also true that many others have had their initial enthusiasm for astronomy severely dampened by their first telescope — especially if the pleasure-to-frustration ratio becomes too low.
