My Dad Discovered Pluto
His double 16"
In 1960, my dad built a double 16"
reflecting telescope for personal planetary research and general
observation. For years he had ground his own mirrors, usually in our
kitchen; altogether he made 36 separate optics in his lifetime. He
had originally ground one of this telescope's mirrors as far back as
1944, but professional obligations delayed the completion of the 16"
until 1960. Here, in his backyard in 1962, he watches as his
granddaughter Kathleen gives the telescope a try.