Doug Christianson has a lot of astronomical savvy and the ability to communicate it to others.  He is a good teacher who is always willing to share his hobby with interested others - especially children.

What is your earliest memory of an interest in Astronomy?
Doug Christianson:  I was raised in North Dakota so there were always lots of stars to see and I was familiar with the constellations, but my real interest began with sailing.  I figured that every sailor, sooner or later, has to cross an ocean so I began to study Celestial Navigation.  Although I was familiar with the constellations, I didn't know the stars so I had to learn them. So I headed out to the back yard, book and binoculars in hand to learn the stars.  I never learned to navigate by the stars but along the way I became fascinated by the stars.  That was ten years ago and I decided to join the FWAS and learn more.

Who was the first person to interest you in Astronomy?
Doug:  I guess it was Ron DiIulio, when I joined the FWAS. I think he was president then.  I am basically a "tech guy".  I like all of the bells and whistles.  Whenever Channel 13 does their program survey, I always give it a big plug for Nova.

What was the first thing you remember really looking up and seeing?
Doug:  It would have to be the Northern Lights.  You see them frequently in North Dakota.  They are like curtains of red and green hanging in the sky.
[I asked if Doug if he had ever heard the northern lights "sing" as often described by the Inuit people of polar north.  He answered with an emphatic NO that revealed his surprise that I would have even asked such a question. The NO was followed by a more controlled "I never heard anything at all - ever".]

Describe your first telescope.  Was it a gift or purchase?  How old were you when you got it?  Have you ever made a telescope?  How did it turn out?
Doug:  My first telescope was a 4½ " Newtonian Reflector that I bought used from a club member when I was 52 years old.  It sits in my living room now because it is better looking than the one I use all the time now.  It has a nice polished wood tripod and looks real good.
I have never built and completed a telescope myself but I am now working on refurbishing the 16"the Noble Planetarium telescope.

What do you do during the daytime?
Doug:  I manage a computer software services company for the government.

Do you have any formal training in Astronomy or Physics?
Doug: I was a Math major in college and took the usual Physics courses but I never made   any kind of connection between what I learned in the Physic's classroom and the night sky.  I read a lot and have learned most of what I know from books and other club members. 
My only formal Astronomy training was last summer when I attended the "Hands On Universe" intensive training at Tarleton in Stephenville.  We had classroom training and field trips to Glenrose.  I would like to volunteer someday to be an Astronomy assistant in the classroom or a planetarium.

Are you a "starhopper" or a "GOTOer"?  Which is best?  Did you go through a binocular phase?
Doug:  I use a combination of them both.  I was really proud of myself, not too long ago out at the site, in finding a comet by "star-hopping".  Current Astronomy could not be done today by "star-hopping" so the technology is really essential.  I used binoculars for a year when I was trying to learn Celestial Navigation in

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