John Dobson was an American amateur astronomer and the co-founder of the Sidewalk Astronomers, a group dedicated to sharing the wonders of the night sky with the public. He is best known for popularizing the Dobsonian telescope, a simple and affordable design that made astronomy more accessible to enthusiasts and beginners alike. Born on January 5, 1915, in Beijing, China, Dobson spent much of his life in the United States. He was also a monk in the Vedanta tradition, which influenced his philosophy of sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity about the universe. Dobson passed away on January 15, 2014.