He had just visited John for a look at Jupiter. John loves to be challenged on a subject like that, and loves to provoke a reaction or a question. 24th and Noe is one of John Dobson's favorite locations for sidewalk astronomy. Photo by the author. As the evening goes on, the atmosphere on the San Francisco street corner becomes joyful.
More people decide to stay for a while and have second or third looks.
A police car pulls into the red-curbed space by the fire hydrant, and a couple of burly SFPD officers step out. But there's no crime to stop here - they just want a look through the telescopes too. He had left a bus, with passengers, stopped at the corner across from us. John is a familiar sight at 24th and Noe, and at 9th and Irving. Many of the residents know him and welcome his visits.