John Dobson TV Special

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Hmmm... I feel as though I'm being shot for my opinion. It's a forum, and that is what I was under the impression I was meant to give. If I have offended anyone here then I apologise.

Don't apologise.... I thought similar really, a bit of an anti-climax really, but an enjoyable show all the same.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I agree, everyone has their own opinion and has a right to give it.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

For one, the World Wide Web would be called the Tim Berners-Lee!

There were plenty of large aperture thin mirrors which predated Dobson on alt az mounts and using vinyl bearings, but I don't begrudge his fame. Dobson happened for whatever reason to spark a chain of events in the US which ended in the incredible design of scope that I use today.

That's how History works!

JD inspired a group of people to gather around him and built some large trash scopes using porthole glass and plywood. They then took these scopes to National Parks in the US and put on some public star parties. JD and his associates were on a mission.

Once this was profiled in Sky&Telescope his fame was assured. You English never had a chance. The design was quickly copied and improved by the likes of Berry and Kreige. TM magazine was also part of this history. The amateur market in the US has the critical mass to support these publications.

I am not sure his original mirrors made of plate glass flash polished would satisfy too many amateurs today, who are a little more picky on optical quality. Those members of the public who looked through his scopes in the National Parks back in the late 1970's didn't really know the difference.

[fringe_dweller]

I really picture JD as an anti-hero more than a 'hero' give the bloke a break, like to see how you would all handle being 103 not out and doing what he was doing and being interviewed geez half of ya will be drooling down your chins probably at that age.
Well maybe some of us find it hard to be all dewy-eyed about the business strategies of a country that amongst other things, makes a profitable business out of, and probably millions of dollars, harvesting and selling the various in demand organs to the highest international bidder, as recently reported, from as many as 10,000 executed prisoners a year, conflict of interest or what? for a supposedly communist country, they sure understand the concept of the free and unfettered market and true capitalism!
I would rather the ethics of someone like John Dobson than those kinda ethics.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by Argonavis

You English never had a chance.

Nah, I'm an Aussie now, with a funny accent, and I've got the passport to prove it.

I get to win the ashes every year - how good is that (on the down-side, I get disappointed by the Soccer twice every World Cup )

[billp]

i've never looked through a telescope ...but have always been strangely drawn to it...a fascination of a kind ? having watched the program on John Dobson sunday night i now want to explore the subject. On the show i saw him grinding a lens [ or maybe the mirror ] for an OTA [ what does that stand for..please excuse my ignorance ] Is this part of builing your own Dobsonian. How is it done? Iask this as i am a glass caster and would like to know more about the mirrors used and if it would be possible to cast the mirror in starphire glass [ low iron glass ] thanks anybody?

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Hmmm... I feel as though I'm being shot for my opinion. It's a forum, and that is what I was under the impression I was meant to give. If I have offended anyone here then I apologise.

Did you expect everyone to agree with you If you put a post on this forum you should expect a different opinion.
Nobody expects an apology, people were only giving their opinion of your opinion

[ving (David)]

opinions huh...

while JD has done good things for astronomy in creating his alt/az rocker mount and the sidewalk astro thing, i can think of a person on this very forums who deserves more praise for his work for the australian and zew zealand astonomical community
not mentioning any names as he might get a swollen head

just my opinion of course

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by astroron

Did you expect everyone to agree with you

Not at all. That would be a tad boring, no?

As I stated before - I thought that my apology was bordering on the facetious:

1.not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark. 2.amusing; humorous. 3.lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.

If it wasn't taken that way, I apologise.




(Dang... there I go again!)

[astroron (Ron)]

From one Englishman to another ,thanks for the English lesson

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Not at all. That would be a tad boring, no?

As I stated before - I thought that my apology was bordering on the facetious:

1.not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark. 2.amusing; humorous. 3.lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.
If it wasn't taken that way, I apologise.



(Dang... there I go again!)

By the way ,you seem to like the word apology, apologise, John Howard could use a few lessons from you

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by astroron

By the way ,you seem to like the word apology, apologise, John Howard could use a few lessons from you

... and for that I'm sorry.

[ving (David)]

oh you guys!

[Dujon]

Originally Posted by billp

i've never looked through a telescope ...but have always been strangely drawn to it...a fascination of a kind ? having watched the program on John Dobson sunday night i now want to explore the subject. On the show i saw him grinding a lens [ or maybe the mirror ] for an OTA [ what does that stand for..please excuse my ignorance ] Is this part of builing your own Dobsonian. How is it done? Iask this as i am a glass caster and would like to know more about the mirrors used and if it would be possible to cast the mirror in starphire glass [ low iron glass ] thanks anybody?

Any chance of a mod or admin moving this to a new thread? It sounds like an interesting subject to me.

Sorry, Bill, but if it's not done you'll be swamped with 'other stuff'.

[norm]

while JD has done good things for astronomy in creating his alt/az rocker mount and the sidewalk astro thing, i can think of a person on this very forums who deserves more praise for his work for the australian and zew zealand astonomical community
not mentioning any names as he might get a swollen head

I 2nd that motion too!

As for JD, yeah it was an interesting show. Guys definitely quirky. I would imagine his name would rank somehere in the top 100 as a person who has made major inroads/influences to astronomy.

[Exfso (Peter)]

The program will be repeated on Friday 24th at 9.30am and 7pm.
On ABC2.

Are you sure on this one, as I would love to record it, and looking at the ABC2 programming for those times, it is definitely compass but the program is nothing to do with John Dobson.

[acropolite (Phil)]

The program will be repeated on Friday 24th at 9.30am and 7pm.
On ABC2.

Didn't happen, perhaps some time in the future. I suspect that the repeats on fridays are of programs that aired several weeks ago.

[billp]

thanks Dujon....I understand . Will post my future q's on the beginners thread. I saw your posting there from back in june. My reason for posting on this thread however was to tap into the collective wisdom of those with experience. I am very interested in the possibilities of making my own mirror. Thanks for replying.

[iceman (Mike)]

Hey guys.

Sorry to bump this thread, just wondering if anyone recorded this show on DVD or something?

I'd like to watch it!

[matt]

Me too!

I'd be happy to pay for any costs involved in producing a DVD copy.

Please pm me and I'll provide mailing address and money for postage also