Re: Prerequisite for 1st telescope

I like Unca Rollo's suggestion that one should have to earn or make
their first telescope rather than receiving it as a gift.

Often folks cite the fact that commercial scopes of decent quality can
now be purchased at very reasonable cost as a reason not to build one's
own. This misses the mark, as saving money is not one of the best reasons
to build.

Starting out at age 10, and on my own as a "budding scientist," I had no
choice but to buy commerically made scopes. Sure, I could have bought some
lenses someplace and gotten a couple of paper towel tubes... So as it
turned out, my first two scopes were little sliding cardboard tube jobs.
Then my parents bought me an Edmund 4-1/4". That really got me going. I
started learning the sky with the supplied planisphere, and the Sam Brown
guidebooks taught me how the world turns.

Fast forward to 1980, and I was sitting with a friend, who is a master
telescope maker, discussing who to buy a 6" mirror from for my new
proposed telescope. I finally concluded, "Duane, if I'm going to learn
anything, why don't I make my own?" Duane's reply was, "That's what I've
been trying to tell you all along!" He just happened to have a set of
blanks, had his barrel all set up, and I got started making my new mirror
right then and there.

Wouldn't it be great if kids in school could be given this opportunity? I
wonder if, in the quest for breadth and doing well on standardized tests, we
have sacrificed doing any one thing well and exploring anything in depth.
Consider how much math and science could be taught just making a mirror and
a telescope, as well as practical skills. I and other members of our club
have spent many, many hours working with kids and adults, and I think that
is great. However, I do believe that we can and should do more. Oh well,
maybe I am just getting carried away by "irrational exuberance" - after all,
I just got back from casting an early ballot for Obama!

Dennis


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Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Have refractors hurt the hobby?
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