John Dobson has died

fred8615 · 01-16-14, 11:17 AM

Don't know if there are any other amateur astronomers here, but if so, this is pretty sad news.

Some years back I moderated an online chat with him. Closest I ever got to meeting him.

John Dobson, 1915–2014

The long-lived master of sidewalk astronomy died peacefully on January 15th. Emerging from obscurity in 1968, he introduced simple ideas that revolutionized how amateurs make and use large reflecting telescopes.

Read the rest at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/Joh ... 56881.html

Onkel Neal · 01-16-14, 02:20 PM

RIP, 99 years old

Jimbuna · 01-16-14, 02:42 PM

Can't say I ever heard of him but 99 is a good innings.

RIP Sir

Herr-Berbunch · 01-16-14, 05:16 PM

Never heard of him until a week or two ago when I searched wiki for Dobsonian Telescopes (one was for sale quite cheaply in Aldi).

RIP JD

fred8615 · 01-16-14, 05:29 PM

Actually, he was 98. His birthday wasn't until September. Still, 98 is a darn long life.

swamprat69er · 01-17-14, 12:30 PM

We should all live so long.

Rest in peace Mr. Dobson

01-16-14, 11:17 AM	#1
fred8615 Saint of the seas Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sorrento, Louisiana Posts: 1,320 Downloads: 265 Uploads: 127	John Dobson has died Don't know if there are any other amateur astronomers here, but if so, this is pretty sad news. Some years back I moderated an online chat with him. Closest I ever got to meeting him. John Dobson, 1915–2014 The long-lived master of sidewalk astronomy died peacefully on January 15th. Emerging from obscurity in 1968, he introduced simple ideas that revolutionized how amateurs make and use large reflecting telescopes. Read the rest at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/Joh ... 56881.html __________________ Frederick J. Barnett Radio Stations & Music Captain's Desk Photos FJB Camera Pre Pearl Harbor Career Start Office links, Info Boxes, & 50 cal Crew Rank Fix Sub Class Info Real Subs SH4 Randomizer Sub Images Office Images Sub Pinups & Pics 24 Hour Clocks Office Posters Nav Map Make-Over Add-ons FJB Navigation Maps Office Window Chronographs Someone's got to take the responsibility if the job's going to get done! Do you think that's easy?! - Gregory Peck, The Guns of Navarone.

01-16-14, 02:20 PM	#2
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	RIP, 99 years old __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

01-16-14, 02:42 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Can't say I ever heard of him but 99 is a good innings. RIP Sir __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-16-14, 05:16 PM	#4
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Never heard of him until a week or two ago when I searched wiki for Dobsonian Telescopes (one was for sale quite cheaply in Aldi). RIP JD __________________

01-16-14, 05:29 PM	#5
fred8615 Saint of the seas Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sorrento, Louisiana Posts: 1,320 Downloads: 265 Uploads: 127	Actually, he was 98. His birthday wasn't until September. Still, 98 is a darn long life. __________________ Frederick J. Barnett Radio Stations & Music Captain's Desk Photos FJB Camera Pre Pearl Harbor Career Start Office links, Info Boxes, & 50 cal Crew Rank Fix Sub Class Info Real Subs SH4 Randomizer Sub Images Office Images Sub Pinups & Pics 24 Hour Clocks Office Posters Nav Map Make-Over Add-ons FJB Navigation Maps Office Window Chronographs Someone's got to take the responsibility if the job's going to get done! Do you think that's easy?! - Gregory Peck, The Guns of Navarone.

01-17-14, 12:30 PM	#6
swamprat69er Aceydeucy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 1,889 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	We should all live so long. Rest in peace Mr. Dobson __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. We the willing, led by the unsure, have done so much with so little, for so long, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.