PBS show-the Sidewalk Astronomer

[MeteorWayne]

I ran across this last night.<br />It's a 1 hour profile of John Dobson, creator of the Dobsonian we all love so much.<br /><br />It was fascinating, and very inspirational.<br /><br />He doesn't believe in the Big Bang which will inspire some fun conversations here.<br />He has a few great lines.<br /><br />"The Universe is 3 things; Hydrogen, Helium, and Stardust"<br /><br />And another which I can't quote exactly, about the dobsonian mount.<br />Something like army's have been firing projectiles on a dobsonian mount for centuries.<br /><br />If you see it listed on your local PBS station, don't miss it!!<br /><br />Meteor Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Dobson didn't invent the mount that is named for him, he only popularized it. (and he will tell you that if you ask him) I've spent weeks with John at the Grand Canyon Star Party Sidewalk Astronomers Visit Grand Canyon Star Party 2001 or GRAND CANYON STAR PARTY – 2005 (that people have posted) he can be a trip.<br /><br />Brad's story: <br /><br />I had one more personal moment with John Dobson. I was walking along the side-walk (an ironic place to meet him!) where he stopped me to give me some advice on life. Here is what he told me:<br /><br />1.) Don’t smoke<br />2.) Don’t drink and drive<br />3.) And whatever you do, don’t bend over to tie your shoes while in the presence of a wild mountain lion!<br /><br />How can you argue with that!<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

You are right about the mount. After all he said artillary has been using it for centuries <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />A most interesting charachter, hope I meet him someday, though that seems unlikely. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[tony873004]

John Dobson has a lot of uncanny common sense. I had the pleasure of voluteering to pick him up from the airport once, as I was in his telescope-making class. <br /><br />"I think my bag's on that caruosel" he exclaimed while pointing a few hundred yards away to a carousel across the baggage claim area.<br /><br />"It can't be" I told him. "This is the carousel with your flight number on it. These people standing around this carousel were the people on your flight. That one's not even spinning."<br /><br />He wanders over there anyway. From across the baggage claim area he shouts "Here it is", bag in hand.<br /><br />I still wonder how he knew. Maybe the big bang didn't happen <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />.