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Telescope Designer and Astronomer John Dobson, 1915-2014
As noted by Sky & Telescope, SpaceWatchtower, and many other sources, astronomer and telescope innovator John Dobson died yesterday in Burbank, California, at the age of 98. He's famous as an inspiration for others to explore astronomy, in part through the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers, which he co-founded in 1967, and as designer of the telescope variety which bears his name.
Because they were cheap for the size. you can get an 8 inch or larger scope that will let you split the rings of Saturn for 1/2 the price of a lesser scope that still only shows you blobs.
And they are insanely easy to maintain.
RIP for the man who made decent astronomy available to the poor man.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I have heard of Dobsonian *mounts*, as opposed to telescopes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonian_telescope#Dobson.27s_design_innovations
Now you have heard of both.