Contact Information
I can be contacted at the e mail address found in the lower right corner of the top banner. Unfortunately I had to remove the direct e mail link due to too much spam.About Myself
I have been interested in astronomy for as long as I can remember. My first telescope was a toy 2" refractor and it started a life long interest in astronomy, science, engineering, and the natural world. My interest in science was supported by my family and also a number of very talented high school science teachers, giving me the encouragement and skills to pursue a technical career. I hold two Bachelor of Science degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry and a Master of Science degree in chemical engineering, specializing in biotechnology and biochemical engineering. I am currently employed as a research engineer and develop processes involving industrial separations, production, and bioprocesses. I have previously been employed as a biochemical engineer, chemical process development engineer, analytical chemist, materials scientist, laboratory technician, karate instructor, forklift driver, waiter, conservator's assistant, tour guide, historical re-enactor, cook, and dishwasher. Well...engineers also fall on hard times and sometimes have to take other kinds of work!In the summer of 1980 I read a three part installment in Astronomy Magazine by Bob Kestner and Richard Berry, titled "How to Build a Dobsonian Telescope". I purchased a 10" parabolic mirror in 1981 for about $100 and built my first Dobsonian style telescope when I was 16 years old. I'm including this story only to illustrate that a 16 year old is capable of building a simple, yet fully functional 10" reflector telescope. As sometimes happens, careers and family can displace hobbies, and I ended up taking about a 15 year break from astronomy. Several years ago I found my original telescope optics in a storage box and used them to build a truss tube style Newtonian telescope on a GoTo mount. As I rediscovered my interest in astronomy, other projects quickly followed. This website contains projects ranging from construction of simple accessories to building computer controlled telescopes and observatories. There are also beginner tutorials on topics ranging from telescopes to celestial motion, and all web pages contain links to a glossary.
It will be your own level of design and construction skills that ultimately determine if what you make is stylish, advanced, or just basic and functional-but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to build quality astronomical equipment. I am an engineer, but my experience is in chemical and biochemical engineering, not mechanical systems or optics. All I possess are basic tools and basic construction/woodworking skills. I live in a rural area of Scandinavia, where hardware stores carry only the most basic items. Out of necessity, the design theme running through this entire website is to Keep It Simple (KIS) and only use basic materials and tools.