Historic Convention Photos 1980-1999

1991 Stellafane Convention

Photos courtesy of Peter Cook, first four taken by Lisa Jo Rudy (Peter's wife), last photo by Bob Summerfield.

1991 Stellafane Convention Scott Manning & Peter Cook admire their Watermelon Scope, including the 'decomposition drive' (Scope moves as it decomposes). Scott Manning & Peter Cook admire their Watermelon Scope, including the 'decomposition drive' (Scope moves as it decomposes).	1991 Stellafane Convention Peter Cook enlarges the optical tube. They bought local before it was fashionable, picking up the watermelon and cucumber in Springfield. Peter Cook enlarges the optical tube. They bought local before it was fashionable, picking up the watermelon and cucumber in Springfield.	1991 Stellafane Convention Scott Manning gesturing and probably exclaiming "What, dew problems again?". Note the cucumber finder scope. Scott Manning gesturing and probably exclaiming "What, dew problems again?". Note the cucumber finder scope.
1991 Stellafane Convention Peter Cook: "We couldn't believe it when we got the award - we were shocked." Peter Cook: "We couldn't believe it when we got the award - we were shocked."	The telescope parts for the watermelon telescope were donated by Derrick Pitts, Director of the Franklin Institute Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia. Peter and Scott had to disassemble an Edmunds telescope to get them and then clean them off and reassemble it when they were done.	1991 Stellafane Convention Peter Cook and Scott Manning with their award winning Watermelon Scope. Peter Cook and Scott Manning with their award winning Watermelon Scope.

Video courtesy of Peter Cook, taken by Lee Shelp. (25 seconds, 1 Mb streaming)

1995 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Ken Slater, STM.

1995 Stellafane Convention Telescopes on display, many awaiting the arrival of the mechanical judges. Telescopes on display, many awaiting the arrival of the mechanical judges.

1995 Stellafane Convention Behind the clubhouse, a large equitorial mounted Newtonian. Behind the clubhouse, a large equitorial mounted Newtonian.

1995 Stellafane Convention Behind the clubhouse, with conventioneers on the rocks. Behind the clubhouse, with conventioneers on the rocks.

1996 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Ken Slater, STM.

1996 Stellafane Convention John Dobson grinds a mirror on a bench under the tent. Junie Esslinger is behind him to the right. Ken Slater in cap with nametag far rear right. John Dobson grinds a mirror on a bench under the tent. Junie Esslinger is behind him to the right. Ken Slater in cap with nametag far rear right.	1996 Stellafane Convention Scopes on display on Breezy Hill with a large crowd to appreciate the creativity and cleverness of their designs. Scopes on display on Breezy Hill with a large crowd to appreciate the creativity and cleverness of their designs.	1996 Stellafane Convention A big crowd of bargain seekers gathers at the swap tables. A big crowd of bargain seekers gathers at the swap tables.
1996 Stellafane Convention The Dino Argentini scope, now housed in the domed observatory, which Dino won 1st place in 1968 for both optical and mechanical. Dino gifted the scope to paul Paul Valleli (seated), who then donated to Stellafane. The Dino Argentini scope, now housed in the domed observatory, which Dino won 1st place in 1968 for both optical and mechanical. Dino gifted the scope to paul Paul Valleli (seated), who then donated to Stellafane.	1996 Stellafane Convention Huge Refracor from Arunah Hill attracted a lot of attention this year out back behind the clubhouse. Huge Refracor from Arunah Hill attracted a lot of attention this year out back behind the clubhouse.	1996 Stellafane Convention Big Dobs get ready for nightfall. Big Dobs get ready for nightfall.

1997 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Ken Slater, STM.

1997 Stellafane Convention Conventioneers and Telescopes surround the Stellafane Clubhouse. Conventioneers and Telescopes surround the Stellafane Clubhouse.	1997 Stellafane Convention Scopes on disply in front of the clubhouse. The Porter Turret is open, probably for solar viewing. Scopes on disply in front of the clubhouse. The Porter Turret is open, probably for solar viewing.	1997 Stellafane Convention Staring into a Big Dob set up behind the clubhouse. Staring into a Big Dob set up behind the clubhouse.
1997 Stellafane Convention Trailer mounted dual scopes attract a small crowd. Trailer mounted dual scopes attract a small crowd.	1997 Stellafane Convention These big binouclars, set up behind the clubhouse, had a constant stream of visitors all day long. These big binouclars, set up behind the clubhouse, had a constant stream of visitors all day long.	1997 Stellafane Convention This transparent scope,fully functional, could show the light path in a Newtonian after smoke was added and a bright light shown in. This transparent scope,fully functional, could show the light path in a Newtonian after smoke was added and a bright light shown in.

Photos by Al Rifkin, STM.

1997 Stellafane Convention Swap Tables, must be early, not a big crowd. Swap Tables, must be early, not a big crowd.	1997 Stellafane Convention Swap Tables, now with a normal crowd. Swap Tables, now with a normal crowd.	1997 Stellafane Convention Louie's Chiken Barbeque. Louie's Chiken Barbeque.
1997 Stellafane Convention Al Nagler in his spot on Stellfane East. Al Nagler in his spot on Stellfane East.	1997 Stellafane Convention Scott Tracy, ASGH, with a convention hat. Scott Tracy, ASGH, with a convention hat.	1997 Stellafane Convention Giant Binoculars behind the clubhouse. Giant Binoculars behind the clubhouse.

1998 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Ken Slater, STM.

1998 Stellafane Convention Conventioneers and Telescopes in front of the clubhouse. Conventioneers and Telescopes in front of the clubhouse.	1998 Stellafane Convention Ken Slater grinds the 27-inch mirror under the tent in the ATM demo area. Ken Slater grinds the 27-inch mirror under the tent in the ATM demo area.	1998 Stellafane Convention Wayne Zulh's scotch mount. Left to Right: (likely) Linda Ide, Wayne Zuhl, Steve Jenner, unknown. Wayne Zulh's scotch mount. Left to Right: (likely) Linda Ide, Wayne Zuhl, Steve Jenner, unknown.
1998 Stellafane Convention Bowling Ball mount and 5-gallon plastic buckets for tube ends, this scope shows a lot of ATM creativity. Bowling Ball mount and 5-gallon plastic buckets for tube ends, this scope shows a lot of ATM creativity.	1998 Stellafane Convention Mount Ascutney in the distance looms up over Breezy Hill at Convention 1998. Mount Ascutney in the distance looms up over Breezy Hill at Convention 1998.	1998 Stellafane Convention The Polar Cassegrain built into the south wall of the clubhouse, with mirrors in place. The Polar Cassegrain built into the south wall of the clubhouse, with mirrors in place.

Photos by Al Rifkin, STM.

1998 Stellafane Convention An empty swap table area waits for the crowds to arrive. An empty swap table area waits for the crowds to arrive.	1998 Stellafane Convention No longer empty, the swap table area is filled with bargain seekers. No longer empty, the swap table area is filled with bargain seekers.	1998 Stellafane Convention The lettering on the red blanket says "The Couch-Potato Telescope" The lettering on the red blanket says "The Couch-Potato Telescope"
1998 Stellafane Convention Coffee Can Telescope. Coffee Can Telescope.	1998 Stellafane Convention An all wooden ball mount scope. An all wooden ball mount scope.	1998 Stellafane Convention Conventioneers in front of the clubhouse on a beautiful day. Conventioneers in front of the clubhouse on a beautiful day.
1998 Stellafane Convention A very nice painting on this small Dobsonian, along with a nice fabric tube covering. A very nice painting on this small Dobsonian, along with a nice fabric tube covering.	1998 Stellafane Convention A conventioneer dressed as the Stellfane Little Man takes a lunch break. A conventioneer dressed as the Stellfane Little Man takes a lunch break.	1998 Stellafane Convention At the evening program, Bob Morse, MC, Al Monkowski and David Levy, Shadowgram Speaker. At the evening program, Bob Morse, MC, Al Monkowski and David Levy, Shadowgram Speaker.

1999 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Ken Slater, STM.

1999 Stellafane Convention At the ATM demoes under the tent, Ken Slater discusses grinding techniques with a sub-diamter tool. He is holding the 18" tool for the 27" mirror it is resting on. At the ATM demoes under the tent, Ken Slater discusses grinding techniques with a sub-diamter tool. He is holding the 18" tool for the 27" mirror it is resting on.

1999 Stellafane Convention Foucault testing demo in the ATM demo area. Brad Vietje with penlight, John Gallagher right of Brad, Ken Slater with Coude mask. Foucault testing demo in the ATM demo area. Brad Vietje with penlight, John Gallagher right of Brad, Ken Slater with Coude mask.

1999 Stellafane Convention Hosting conventioneers in the clubhouse. Ken Slater, white cap left rear, Maryann Arrien center. Hosting conventioneers in the clubhouse. Ken Slater, white cap left rear, Maryann Arrien center.

Photos by Al Rifkin, STM.

1999 Stellafane Convention Scott Milligan, Brad Vietje, Sher Malik's son, Sher Malik (back to us), Unknown (Green Cap), Al Stern. Scott Milligan, Brad Vietje, Sher Malik's son, Sher Malik (back to us), Unknown (Green Cap), Al Stern.	1999 Stellafane Convention An interesting conduit frame scope set up by a campsite. An interesting conduit frame scope set up by a campsite.	1999 Stellafane Convention The Swap Tables, crowded as always. The Swap Tables, crowded as always.
1999 Stellafane Convention Breezy Hill, Saturday Morning. Al Rifkin's Lego Scope (fully functional) at center. Breezy Hill, Saturday Morning. Al Rifkin's Lego Scope (fully functional) at center.	1999 Stellafane Convention A crowd gathers under the tent for the evening program. A crowd gathers under the tent for the evening program.	1999 Stellafane Convention Remember, you can never buy too many raffle tickets! Remember, you can never buy too many raffle tickets!
1999 Stellafane Convention John Dobson address the crowd. Gary Cislak in the wings, Bob Morse (MC) Al Stern (seated) John Dobson address the crowd. Gary Cislak in the wings, Bob Morse (MC) Al Stern (seated)	1999 Stellafane Convention Gary Cislak presents Al Nagler with a club designed "Nagler Type 5". Al was surprised anyone could design eyepieces bigger than he could. Gary Cislak presents Al Nagler with a club designed "Nagler Type 5". Al was surprised anyone could design eyepieces bigger than he could.	1999 Stellafane Convention What? Rain at Stellafane? Very Unusual! What? Rain at Stellafane? Very Unusual!