John Diebel
Encyclopedia
John C. Diebel is the founder of telescope
manufacturer Meade Instruments Corporation and a recipient of the The Franklin Institute's Bower Award For Business Leadership.
, Diebel landed an engineering job at Hughes Aircraft
. It was there that he realized that he wanted to start his own business, and after doing some research in a public library
, he concluded that he would start a small mail-order business selling products for amateur astronomy.
In 1972, after procuring a loan of $2500, John made his first purchase from a telescope supplier in Japan
and placed an ad in Sky & Telescope
magazine. Eventually Diebel was able to quit his job at Hughes and work on his mail-order business from his one-bedroom apartment full time. He named his company Mead, but eventually added the "e" at the suggestion of a co-worker at Hughes. John used the name Mead, because of his affinity for Lake Mead
, a place where he would often go to relax.
Meade Instruments would eventually become the world's largest telescope manufacturer for amateur astronomy with distribution in over thirty countries. John's continual product improvements and the production of millions of telescopes resulted in many discoveries of comet
s (including Comet Hale-Bopp
), asteroid
s, and supernova
by "backyard astronomers".
John Diebel retired from Meade Instruments in 2003. He leaves a legacy of many industry innovations inspiring everyday people to develop a knowledge of science and the desire to explore the universe
for themselves.
accessible and affordable to the public. As an intellectual descendant of Benjamin Franklin
, helping ordinary people experience the discipline, wonder and excitement of scientific inquiry. Mr. Diebel's efforts support science
and technology literacy among the populace - the mission of The Franklin Institute."
and David H. Levy
at Palomar Observatory
. They named the asteroid 15276 Diebel
in honor of John C. Diebel, a lifelong amateur astronomer and telescope enthusiast. Thanks largely to his vision in making complex optics and computer electronics available to many, Diebel has made a significant contribution towards encouraging the public to enjoy the night sky.
enthusiasts with members worldwide.
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
manufacturer Meade Instruments Corporation and a recipient of the The Franklin Institute's Bower Award For Business Leadership.
Meade Instruments
Soon after receiving a doctorate in electronic engineering from the California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, Diebel landed an engineering job at Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
. It was there that he realized that he wanted to start his own business, and after doing some research in a public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
, he concluded that he would start a small mail-order business selling products for amateur astronomy.
In 1972, after procuring a loan of $2500, John made his first purchase from a telescope supplier in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and placed an ad in Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including the following:*current events in astronomy and space exploration;*events in the amateur astronomy community;...
magazine. Eventually Diebel was able to quit his job at Hughes and work on his mail-order business from his one-bedroom apartment full time. He named his company Mead, but eventually added the "e" at the suggestion of a co-worker at Hughes. John used the name Mead, because of his affinity for Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
, a place where he would often go to relax.
Meade Instruments would eventually become the world's largest telescope manufacturer for amateur astronomy with distribution in over thirty countries. John's continual product improvements and the production of millions of telescopes resulted in many discoveries of comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s (including Comet Hale-Bopp
Comet Hale-Bopp
Comet Hale–Bopp was perhaps the most widely observed comet of the 20th century, and one of the brightest seen for many decades...
), asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
s, and supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
by "backyard astronomers".
John Diebel retired from Meade Instruments in 2003. He leaves a legacy of many industry innovations inspiring everyday people to develop a knowledge of science and the desire to explore the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
for themselves.
The Bower Award
Diebel was recognized for "his courage and insight, and leadership of a commercial venture founded on the premise of making astronomyAstronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
accessible and affordable to the public. As an intellectual descendant of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, helping ordinary people experience the discipline, wonder and excitement of scientific inquiry. Mr. Diebel's efforts support science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and technology literacy among the populace - the mission of The Franklin Institute."
15276 Diebel (1991 GA10)
On April 14, 1991, minor planet (1991 GA10) was discovered by astronomers Carolyn S. ShoemakerCarolyn S. Shoemaker
Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker is an American astronomer and is a co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. She holds the record for most comets discovered by an individual.- Personal life :...
and David H. Levy
David H. Levy
David H. Levy is a Canadian astronomer and science writer most famous for his co-discovery in 1993 of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.-Biography:...
at Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in San Diego County, California, southeast of Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology...
. They named the asteroid 15276 Diebel
15276 Diebel
15276 Diebel is a main belt asteroid. Discovered on April 14th, 1991 by Carolyn S. Shoemaker and David H. Levy at Palomar Observatory with the 18" Schmidt Camera, it was originally designated 1991 GA10. Also known as a minor planet or planetoid, 1991 GA10 was renamed by the discoverers for John...
in honor of John C. Diebel, a lifelong amateur astronomer and telescope enthusiast. Thanks largely to his vision in making complex optics and computer electronics available to many, Diebel has made a significant contribution towards encouraging the public to enjoy the night sky.
Meade 4M Community
John Diebel's commitment to support the astronomical community's organizations, events, and individuals who were committed to public outreach in astronomy inspired former Meade Vice President of Brand Community, Scott W. Roberts to form and launch the Meade 4M Community in 2005. It is today the world's largest organization devoted to astronomy and space explorationSpace exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
enthusiasts with members worldwide.