During last night's meeting, there was some discussion about an
observatory somewhere in Phoenix which was visited by one of the
attendees in 1970 or 1971. The observatory had been featured in Sky &
Telescope sometime during the previous year or so.
After a short search, it would appear that the observatory in question
may have been built by Max Kaufman, at 929 W. Turney Ave., which is just
north of Indian School. There is an article describing it in the April,
1970 issue of the magazine. The telescope was a home-made 12-1/2"
Schmidt Cassegrain. The Google satellite view shows what appears to be
an outbuilding with a roll-off roof in the back yard at this address, so
it's possible that the original 9x9 observatory remains today.
HealthGrades.com shows a Dr. Ernest R. Kaufman, age 68, at that address
presently.
Kaufman credits Max Bray with assistance at several points in the
fabrication and testing of his optics. Max, as many in the club are
probably aware, was a local optician of considerable skill and
experience. The lunar and solar images I showed in my presentation were
made using a 135 mm Maksutov which Mr. Bray built for me in 1988.
-- Mike --
