71 replies to this topic

[Vic Menard]

I just received an email from Robert Dalby FRAS with the sad news that Nils Olof passed away yesterday. Robert asked me to post this in the Cloudy Nights forums, which Nils Olof enjoyed so much. Robert told me that Nils Olof, "...had taken ill with a reoccurrence of a longstanding heart condition and passed away while in the care of doctors at Lund University Hospital."

 

To say that Nils Olof will be "sorely missed" is an understatement. I would place his contributions to these forums somewhere between "this should be in the text book" and legendary. I will always remember his "magical" back of the envelope math-in-a-hurry, where, with a few select numbers, he would almost spontaneously deliver the solution that had been eluding everyone else--for days... It seemed to me that over the past few years, Nils Olof would kind of stroll into the fray with a quiet, yet perceptive, voice of reason, and, well, how can you argue with that? 

 

Nils Olof’s insights regarding the autocollimator and Newtonian axial tolerances were particularly important to me for validating the alignment criteria in the fifth edition of "New Perspectives on Newtonian Collimation”. But even more important, at least in my mind, was with his help, finally uniting all of the theories and applications in such a way that everyone could agree, “This is it!” That was something I knew from the beginning, could not be done without Nils Olof nodding his head in the background.

 

Today, I'm thankful for the Cloudy Nights forums, where I feel like I actually got to know Nils Olof Carlin. Like many reading this, I will miss him, and I will never forget him!

[Bill Schneider]

That's terribly sad news.

[tag1260]

First Howie, now Nils.  Collimation and alignment of these great instruments of ours will never be the same without them. I think neither knew their true impact on the hobby.  My sympathies and prayers go out to his family.

[Bob4BVM]

A great , humble, and generous mentor to so many of us. 

Yes this is a great loss to us...

But imagine him now, enjoying a view of the Heavens we here cannot even begin to comprehend.

 

Enjoy the well-earned wonders before you, our dear friend !

 

and Thank You,

Bob

Edited by Bob4BVM, 15 August 2017 - 12:57 PM.

[mark cowan]

Very sad news indeed.  Nils Olof was a very trusted colleague and a long time on-line friend with outstanding insight (even though he would deny the last in due modesty).

 

Mark

[Jason D]

Very sorry to hear the sad news about the passing of Nils Olof. I consider him one of my collimation mentors. I learned so much from him. A true gentleman. RIP, Nils Olof Carlin.

Jason

 

 

[Jon Isaacs]

Wow, just Wow.

 

Over the years, Nils and I had many private conversations on many topics, not only collimation, equatorial platforms, reflex finders but politics, music and life in general.

 

Few here probably know that in the 1970's Nils developed and built guitar effects pedals, these have a following and only a fre years ago, Nils built another batch.

 

https://moodysounds....ser-original-g/

 

Nils had a very special mind, he understood things on a very fundamental level and he could apply it to the real world.

 

A gentle, modest man who was content to let others reap the benefits of his genius..

 

A friend has passed.

 

Nils:  Rest in peace 

 

Jon

[alvarete]

I am sorry very much to hear that.
Rest in peace

[Jitou]

No way ! I regularly read over and over again his very instructive papers about collimation. We'll always be grateful for his work on the autocollimator and the barlowed laser his own invention. My though goes to his family up north somewhere in Sweden.

[kingjamez]

Very sorry to hear. He was a true asset to the community! 

 

-Jim

[Joe1950]

I didn't know his as well most of you did, but every time our paths cross and he made a post, it was extraordinary and memorable.

 

We were fortunate to know him, and share a passion with Nils.

[jonathanCR]

Everytime I see a post with his name on it I know that is the one to read carefully because the answer is there for sure. RIP...

[airbleeder]

   I'm so sorry to hear that Nils has passed. He will be missed by many not only for his contributions, but also for his kindness. I will miss him.

[jtsenghas]

Oh no! Sad news! I hope his passing was merciful for him and his family.

 

Nils Olof is the one we have to credit for the concept of using a barlowed laser to very accurately collimate a primary mirror --even if secondary axis alignment is a wee bit off.  He published this in a few articles in 2003 and 2004 including in Sky and Telescope Magazine. That primary axis has a MUCH tighter tolerance on fast instruments than the secondary axis, even if a coma corrector is used.

 

Howie integrated this concept into his fine tools.  Both are giants in this field.  This is a sad year for observers indeed.

[jtsenghas]

I have been a member of this community for less than three years, and Nils Olof made me feel welcome on the first day I posted on the Beginner's forum.  He was patient in explaining things to a fault, but his dry wit indicated he didn't suffer fools kindly, and he had no shame in identifying certain arguments as either wrong or irrelevant.  In my first year he and I shared a number of PMs, and twice he contacted me out of the blue inquiring me about a couple of my projects that were embarrassingly languishing due to lack of attention.

 

The world became a smaller place today.

[Astrojensen]

We have lost a gentle giant. Rest in peace among the stars, Nils Olof. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Pinbout]

----

[jtsenghas]

Nils had a very special mind, he understood things on a very fundamental level and he could apply it to the real world...

Jon

Jon is absolutely right on that point. Nils Olof Carlin, for example, worked out the math regarding the size of the coma-free sweet spot of a paraboloid varying with the cube of the f/number. (In millimeters it is generally accepted as being 0.005 x F^3).

His contributions in this hobby have been immense.

[clivemilne]

RIP Nils...

[MitchAlsup]

Godspeed my friend.

[Ed D]

I learned a lot from reading his discussions on these forums.  We will surely miss him.

 

Ed D

[raal]

I felt privileged when Nils Olof once found the time to nudge my thoughts in the right direction.

 

Farewell, Nils Olof!

[tommm]

Very sad

[Coconuts]

I have been an active ATM since the age of ten, but have only recently begun visiting the CN forums.  While I definitely recognize Nils Olof's name, having seen it here and there, I am completely missing his many contributions.  Could I suggest, in both recognition of his legacy, and as an access point for newer members, that a single thread be generated, and added to our sticky thread, that includes his many posts?

 

All the best,

 

Kevin

[highertheflyer]

I have been an active ATM since the age of ten, but have only recently begun visiting the CN forums.  While I definitely recognize Nils Olof's name, having seen it here and there, I am completely missing his many contributions.  Could I suggest, in both recognition of his legacy, and as an access point for newer members, that a single thread be generated, and added to our sticky thread, that includes his many posts?

 

All the best,

 

Kevin

May I second Kevin's requests please?

Jim