Ricardo Gonzalez was Chilean amateur telescope maker who made over 200 telescopes including 2 that are
50cm (20 inches). At the time, these were the largest amateur homemade scopes in Chile. Ricardo was such an inspiration that
there is a club, Telescoperos Ricardo Gonzalez that is active in Chile today, making telescopes and getting the public interested
in astronomy.
In 2004, John Dobson met Ricardo Gonzalez
in Chile. It was fantastic for the amateurs in Chile to see 2 of thier inspirations together. During John's time in Chile,
he had the opportunity of doing sidewalk observing with a 16" telescope made by Ricardo Gonzales. Mr. Gonzalez died in
2007.
