File talk:Telescope trailer 22.jpg

This is a trailer-mounted telescope that was designed and built by Steve Dodson, of Sudbury, Ontario. It is a 22", f/7.3 Newtonian reflector, and the main mirror was ground and polished by Dodson. The telescope sits atop a large Poncet Platform, which allows it to be motor-driven as an equatorial mounted telescope, while retaining the ease of use and alt-az movements of a large Dobsonian instrument. (Dobsonian refers to a design popularized by John Dobson, founder of the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers, not to be confused with Steve Dodson, though they are close friends, and John was a teacher of, and certainly a mentor to Steve).

This large amateur telescope is photographed in front of the Porter Turret Telescope (white building) and Stellafane Clubhouse (pink building). The clubhouse was designed by Russel W. Porter, and built in 1924, while the turret-mounted telescope, also designed by Porter, was built in 1930 by the Springfield Telescope Makers, of Springfield, VT. In 1989, the Stellafane Clubhouse and Porter Turret Telescope were designated a National Historic Landmark.

This 22" telescope was used by Steven James O'Meara at Stellafane in 1984 to make the first visual observation of Comet Halley in the continental US on it's most recent journey through the solar system (S.J.O. had previously spotted the comet at high altitude at Mauna Kea observatory in Hawaii), and in 1985 over 100 amateur stargazers were able to view Halley's Comet in this same telescope. Steve Dodson later founded a company to sell small portable telescopes and build-your-on telescope kits, and is commonly known as "Stargazer Steve".

Written by Brad Vietje, past president of the Springfield Telescope Makers, on June 8, 2013.