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Author
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Topic: "Sidewalk astronomer" John Dobson (1915-2014)
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-16-2014 02:56 AM
   
May John L. Dobson RIP among the stars!  John Lowry Dobson (Sept. 14, 1915 - Jan. 15, 2014) was a popularizer of amateur astronomy. He is most notable for being the promoter of a design for a large, portable, low-cost Newtonian reflector telescope that bears his name, the Dobsonian telescope. The design is considered revolutionary since it allowed amateur astronomers to build fairly large telescopes. He was less known for his efforts to promote awareness of astronomy (and his unorthodox views of cosmology) through public lectures including his performances of "sidewalk astronomy." |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-16-2014 04:00 AM
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Sputnik 1
Member Posts: 48
From: Heilbronn, Germany
Registered: Jul 2011
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posted 01-17-2014 02:09 AM
R.I.P. Mr. John Dobson and thank you for your tributes for ATM.Dr. Paul Deister |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-17-2014 04:18 AM
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-17-2014 04:37 AM
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mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 01-17-2014 06:02 AM
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mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-17-2014 12:17 PM
I got to meet Dobson about nine years ago and spend an evening with him at a small astronomy group...he was the definition of an eccentric genius, full of humor and wit, but willing to say whatever was on his mind. And wow, he had a lot on his mind. He also didn't have a single care for material possessions and didn't begrudge the fact that his telescope designs could have made him millions if he had patented them. It simply didn't concern him. For him, the most important thing was sharing astronomy with the public. RIP to a truly unique man. |
dom
Member Posts: 855
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 01-17-2014 02:58 PM
I read somewhere that he often gave away his own home-made telescopes at public skywatching events because he enjoyed making new ones so much! That's class... |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 01-17-2014 07:35 PM
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mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 01-17-2014 08:40 PM
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RobertB
Member Posts: 160
From: Israel
Registered: Nov 2012
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posted 01-18-2014 02:07 AM
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-19-2014 02:00 PM
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dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 01-23-2014 08:47 PM
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