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100

What magazine did Neil subscribe to?

Scientific America

100

What did Neil excel in besides science?

Dance and wrestling

100

What did Neil use to win his matches?

Understanding of physics

100

What did Neil also buy with his dog walking money?

A good camera to take sky pictures

100

Where was Neil's first public talk?

City College in New York

200

What did Neil see through the binoculars?

The moonscape over the Hudson River

200

What did Neil’s parents give him for his 12th birthday?

A telescope

200

What did his parents buy Neil on sale so that he could learn about what he was looking at?

Science books

200

What did Neil do if police officers arrived?

Let them look through his telescope

200

Why was Neil's favorite planet his favorite?

Its dozens of moons and rings

300

What did Neil have larger than any kid at school?

Library

300

What did Neil offer to do in order to save for a better telescope?

Walked his neighbors’ dogs

300

What were people’s reactions when they saw Neil on the roof with his telescope?

They were scared that he was a sniper or robber

300

What was Neil’s favorite planet?

Saturn

300

What was turned into a floating laboratory?

An ocean liner

400

How did Neil get to class?

Subway

400

What was Neil's nickname for winning science fair prizes?

"Card carrying nerd kid"

400

Where did Neil get to go when he was 15?

Summer astronomy camp in the Mojave Desert in Southern CA

400

What were three creepy animals in the desert?

Scorpions, tarantulas, and coyotes

400

Which school did Carl Sagen want Neil to attend?

Cornell University in Ithica, New York

500

What was the name of the class at the Hayden Planetarium?

Advanced topics in Astronomy for Young People

500

Who was going on the trip?

2000 scientists and observers, including famous astronauts and science fiction writers

500
What did standing with the scientists make Neil feel like?

Science superhero

500

What did Carl give Neil in case his bus broke down?

His home phone number

500

What did Neil note about his interview that was amazing?

It was an interview with a black person who had expertise that had nothing to do with being black