Who Is John Dobson?

Born in Beijing, China, on September 14, 1915, John Lowry Dobson is an influential astronomer known in astronomy circles for his popular Dobsonian telescope design, used by a large number of astronomers. Dobson is also known for his efforts to promote awareness of astronomy but is only considered a "sidewalk astronomer."

Dobson was an atheist in high school and later grew interested in the universe and how it functions. He earned a degree in chemistry in 1943 from the University of California at Berkeley, and soon after joined the Vedanta Society in San Francisco (in 1944), becoming a monk of the Ramakrishna order. After leaving the order in 1967, Dobson cofounded San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers, an organization aimed toward popularizing astronomy among everyday people. That same year, his telescope design became well known in the world of astronomy.

His popularity, due to his telescope design, has led to his guest appearances at several meetings of amateur astronomers, and Dobson has been dubbed both the "Pied Piper of Astronomy" and the "Star Monk." He was the only amateur astronomer discussed in the PBS series The Astronomers and has twice been a guest on The Tonight Show. In addition, Dobson was featured in two recent documentaries, Universe-The Cosmology Quest and A Sidewalk Astronomer.

In 2004, the Crater Lake Institute presented him with its annual Award for Excellence in Public Service for his pioneering of sidewalk astronomy in national parks and forests, and in 2005 Smithsonian listed Dobson as one of 35 people who have made a significant difference of some kind during the lifetime of that magazine.