1964 put my yard work money together and bought a 4 1/2 " reflector by Edmond at Peninsula Scientific.
1966 Girls and surfing took over most interests
1980 While in the Santa Cruz Library and picked up an issue of Sky and Telescope( My mom actually got me a subscription back in the 60s.)
To my amazement was advertised a 13" Dob by Coulter. for $399. had not touched a telescope in 14 years.
2 months later a delivery truck showed up with this huge blue monster.
Soon found out about SJAA s Messier Marathon that was held up on Loma Prieta . There was actually snow on the ground(rare for coastal mountains).the club members were quite friendly and were very helpful in showing me how to use the Coulter Dob.
After they closed off Loma ,most of my observing has been at Fremont Peak.
1984 got a Standard C8 ,later sold to the inventor of fiber optics in Palo Alto.
1986 purchased a C11.
1990 went to work for Orion Telescopes
1992 got a Cat for the C11
1992 Started sewing together covers and soft cases for customers of Orion
1993 they started including my products in their catalog
Worked with /for Orion until 2000
My interest began to shift to binocular astronomy with a pair of Miyauchi 100s.
Been on my own with casesandcovers.com ever since .
Still active in astronomy. Been attending the Glacier Point star party in Yosemite for 20 years .
Currently own a Starmaster Hybrid 14.5 , Televue 127, a Questar and a pair of Miyauchi 100s.
I use my own products .
Nick Doukas
Happy Stars
