Dobsonian, a. and n. Astron.
Brit. /dɒbˈsəʊnɪən/, U.S. /dɑbˈsoʊniən/
[‹ the name of John Dobson (b. 1915), Chinese-born U.S. amateur astronomer, who developed the telescope + -ian suffix.]
A. adj. Designating or relating to a sturdy, inexpensive form of Newtonian telescope with a large aperture and short focal length, used especially by amateur astronomers for deep-sky work. Also: designating the altazimuth mount for such a telescope.
| [1980 Sky & Telescope 58 410/3 (caption) Ken Miller of the Pacific Science Center in Seattle chose to make a Dobson altazimuth mounting for the 40-cm (16-inch) Newtonian.] 1980 Sky & Telescope 60 138/1 (advt.) Odyssey 1 13.1{pp}f/4.5 Dobsonian type deep-sky telescope. 1991 Astronomy Dec. 16/2 The Dobsonian revolution offers a potential solution, but has been applied mostly to large apertures of 8 inches and above. 1996 Sci. Amer. June 12/2 Another observer peers through a six-foot-long cylinder resting in an odd cradle that Stern calls a Dobsonian mount: ‘It's much cheaper and easier to build than the standard equatorial mount.’ |
B. n. A Dobsonian telescope.
| 1980 Sky & Telescope 60 138/1 (advt.) Build your own Dobsonian. 1996 SkyNews Mar.–Apr. 25/2 Built or assembled, there is one Newtonian design that has become the overwhelming favourite: the Dobsonian, named after Californian John Dobson, the first to popularize it in the 1970s. 1998 Sky & Telescope Mar. 14/3 Starparty organizers need protection from being taken to the cleaners when someone..falls off a ladder while looking through the eyepiece of a big Dobsonian. |