ASTRONOMICAL OBSESSION EARTHBOUND SPACE EXPLORER OFFERS MOON AND STARS TO KIDS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - Ever since Bob Alborzian can remember, he has tilted his head back to look to the skies, swooning over the moon's glow, wondering about Saturn's rings, and pondering Jupiter's famous red spot.

For years now, the 57-year-old Burbank amateur astronomer has been toting his handmade telescopes to schools and libraries, eager to teach young people that space exploration is as easy as standing on the sidewalk and looking through a piece of polished glass.

And now, as the nation reels from the loss of space shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts, Alborzian will try to help them understand that the price of knowledge often does not come without sacrifice.

``That's how we learn,'' he said. ``In order to achieve a point, sometimes, we have to sacrifice another point. Unfortunately, this was a sacrifice of human life.''

Alborzian, who is a member of The Sidewalk Astronomers, an international nonprofit group, will be at the Buena Vista Branch library at 7 p.m. tonight, where he will present a slide show, then set up three Dobsonian telescopes in the parking lot for his audience to examine the moon, Jupiter and Saturn.

Founded in 1967 by John Dobson, The Sidewalk Astronomers offer lectures on space and the planets. At age 87, Dobson created the Dobsonian telescope, a piece constructed of cardboard, wood and ground-up glass, that can make the moon, which is 230,000 miles away, seem 3,000 miles closer to earth.

``The six-inch Dobsonian is one of the most popular in the world,'' Alborzian said. ``By all accounts, it is just as brilliant as any telescope.''

Members of The Sidewalk Astronomers, which number about 700 in California and operate chapters worldwide - from Siberia to Japan - often visit schools and libraries to expand on the notion of space for young people, especially those who may not own telescopes.

Members also hold star parties and classes on how to build Dobsonian telescopes. Later this year, all eyes will be on Mars, which will be at its closest point to Earth, an event that only occurs every 17 years, Alborzian said.

Tonight's program is aimed at local teens who are interested in space.

The presentations have been popular in the past, said Buena Vista Branch children's librarian Laura Brownwell.

``The last time we had him at our library, we had 130 people,'' she said. ''I know that our books about space and the planets here at the children's are heavily checked out.''

Alborzian holds a degree in international economics and said he now makes his living visiting schools and speaking about planets.

What he likes more than anything is what happens when a child first views objects in space.

``When you see the smile on a child's face who has never seen the moon close up, it is worth it,'' Alborzian said. ``It just brings a big smile to my face.''

IF YOU GO

--Sidewalk Astronomer Bob Alborzian will speak on space and handmade telescopes at 7 p.m. at the Buena Vista Branch Library, 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank. Information: 238-5620.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Sidewalk astronomer Bob Alborzian trains his telescope on the night sky Monday from the front of his home in Burbank.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)