Man who invented Dobsonian telescope teaching craft in Oregon

MONMOUTH, Ore. - John Dobson is serious when it comes to telescope making.

"Somebody told me it was possible to grind your own glass, that's all I needed to know," Dobson said.

The 96-year-old has been grinding his own glass for decades to fit into telescopes he builds.

"Someone has to make it possible for people to see how the hell they got born," Dobson said.

But Dobson is not just any astronomy guru.

The telescope that Dobson is making is the same type of telescope he invented in the 1960s - the legendary Dobsonian Telescope.

Dobson's telescope changed the way people look to the heavens.

"What they used to do is have something that goes across the sky slowly like this, at the same speed, the moon goes across this," Dobson said. "It doesn't do that, it's just something you look through and see the thing out there."

For the month of July, Dobson is holding a series of classes to teach students how to make telescopes.

The participants are making their own telescopes out of cardboard, plywood, and glass.
    
As Dobson watches his students work on their telescopes, he cannot help but get a little antsy.

"It makes me impatient, I could do it faster," Dobson said.

"He's a kick, he comes up with the wittiest stuff," said Steve Focht, a Monmouth resident taking the class.

At 96, Dobson said teaching others is something he plans to continue doing as long as he can.

"I don't know how long it''ll last," Dobson said. "If people want me to help them do this, I'll help them."

Dobson's reason behind teaching people to make telescopes is simple.

"The people who get born in this world, need to see where the hell they are," Dobson said. "Somebody has to show them and telling them doesn't do it."

Classes are on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

After this month, Dobson will head back to Los Angeles where he'll continue teaching skygazers the art of telescope making.