Eclipse revives homemade telescopes

Nadezhda laughs: "Wives tried to lead their husbands to him to treat them for alcoholism, but the stars did not have such a beneficial effect on others."

As his fame spread, people began asking Levchenko to read the stars and find out the best time to plant potatoes and cabbages.

"My father never believed in horoscopes, but he was able to predict the weather with the help of the telescope," Nadezhda said. "People believed in him more than they believed in forecasters."

The people of Barnaul hope the telescope will lure visitors to their town during the total solar eclipse, even though NASA says Russia's third most populated town, Novosibirsk, is likely to be the main visiting place in this region.

(Writing by Sabina Zawadzki; editing by Clar Ni Chonghaile)