This the December 19, 2003 Stellafane Home Page.
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Stellafane
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Welcome to the Stellafane Home Page

Web Home of the
Springfield Telescope Makers

"For it is true that astronomy, from a popular standpoint, is handicapped by the inability of the average workman to own an expensive astronomical telescope. It is also true that if an amateur starts out to build a telescope just for fun he will find, before his labors are over, that he has become seriously interested in the wonderful mechanism of our universe. And finally there is understandably the stimulus of being able to unlock the mysteries of the heavens by a tool fashioned by one's own hand."

Russell W. Porter, March 1923 -- Founder of Stellafane.
Read an article by Porter about telescope making.

HEADLINES (Updated December 3, 2003)

ATM web page on polishing (Posted 12/3/03).
Pole Barn information and photo index page (Posted 11/17/03).
ATM web page on fine grinding (Posted 11/12/03).
Watch a movie of the work on the polebarn. (Posted 10/15/03).
Fundraising for the "pole barn" has begun (Posted 9/30/03).
Stellafane to build a "pole barn" at Stellafane East (Updated 9/30/03).
The lights at the Springfield prison are on (Posted 9/30/03).
Link your astro site from the Stellafane web page (Posted 9/9/03).

FUND RAISING FOR THE NEW FACILITY TO BE BUILT AT STELLAFANE EAST HAS BEGUN
(Posted September 30, 2003)

Work has begun on the new facility to be constructed at Stellafane East, which should greatly improve the environment under which talks are given during the Stellafane convention. This endeavor is currently referred to as the "pole barn project". Please see the article below for details. The primary obstacle to the construction of the facility, at this point, is funding. To that end, the Springfield Telescope Makers are currently accepting donations to be devoted exclusively to the "pole barn" project. All donations will be gratefully accepted. No donation is too small. Please note that the Springfield Telescope Makers are qualified as tax exempt under section 501(c)3 of Internal Revenue Service regulations. Therefore, your gift is fully tax deductible. Please make checks payable to:

Springfield Telescope Makers
Stellafane Pole Barn Fund
PO Box 601
Springfield, VT 05156

The Springfield Telescope Makers would like to offer great thanks to those who have already donated to this project. It is hoped that this new facility will improve the ability of the Stellafane convention participants to teach each other about telescope making and mirror grinding and thus continue the vision of Russell Porter far into the future. If you have questions about this project please ask. Thanks! The Springfield Telescope Makers.

STELLAFANE TO BUILD A "POLE BARN" AND ANOTHER OBSERVATORY ON THE CONVENTION SITE!!
(Updated September 30, 2003)

After many months of permit application work and preliminary design reviews, Stellafane has officially received the permits to begin construction of a "pole barn" and another observatory on the convention site. The "pole barn" will be located in the lower field to the South-East of the Bunkhouse and will replace the big tent. The observatory will be located somewhere in the observing field to the South of the McGregor observatory. The primary purpose of the "pole barn" will be to greatly improve the conditions under which the convention talks are held. At the moment, it is hoped that the "pole barn" will be completed for the 2005 or 2006 Stellafane convention. If you have any questions on the "pole barn" project please ask. The membership of the Springfield Telescope Makers would like to offer many thanks to our president, Junie Esslinger, and our vice-president, Brad Vietje, for climbing the mountains of paperwork, over the past couple of years, to acquire the permit so work on these projects could begin. More detailed information will be posted in the weeks to come. Clear skies!

The Pole Barn as envisioned completed
in the "tent field".

Pole Barn Work - September, 2003
(Photos by John Martin)


The "tent field" before work started.	The permit for the pole barn and the new observatory.	John "Dozer" Martin moving the one and only tree that is in the way.	Job one finished. Only million more to go.

The "Tent Field" at the beginning of work on the pole barn.

Pole Barn Work - October, 2003
(Photos by Paul Valelli)


The "pole barn" field looking East.	The "pole barn" field looking West.

(Photos by Dave Prowten)


The "pole barn" field looking East.	The "pole barn" field looking West.

(Photos by Ken Slater)


Trench for west drain looking north.	Clearing roots with the "Toad".	General view looking north.

Pole Barn Work - November, 2003

(Photos by Ken Slater)


John Gallagher moving fill.	John Martin loading the dump truck.	Kris Larsen and Gary Cislak moving fill.

Watch a movie of work being done to pepare the grounds for the Polebarn
(Movie by Wayne Zuhl)

Right click and select "save target as" to download theMPG file of work being done to prepare the ground for the polebarn (8.4 Meg file).

THE LIGHTS AT THE SPRINGFIELD PRISON HAVE BEEN TURNED ON
(Posted September 30, 2003)

Hi all. This past Thursday (September 25, 2003) representatives of the state of Vermont, the town of Springfield, the IDA and several members of the Springfield Telescope Makers, were given a preview of what the lights from the new prison will look like. Well, it turns out that all that noise many of us made a few years back has paid off greatly. In fact, you can drive right past the prison at night and not see any light from it. You'd actually have to go up the driveway, to the top of the hill to see any lights from the prison.

At Stellafane East, where the observations were made, its been reported that once the lights went on, you really had to search for any glow created by them. So much so, that the impact of the prison is practically nil. Nancy Clanton, from Clanton Associates and the IDA, along with Bob Gent (IDA and President of the Astronomical League) were thrilled at what they saw, both from Stellafane and at the prison site itself.

The battle to not have the prison there at all, then, once it was inevitable, to light it in a way so it would have little impact on the skies at Stellafane, were hard fought. Many people, locals and others from different locations in the country, spent many, many hours working to limit the impact of the prison. Efforts were made to educate and inform, meet with politicians and planners, write letters and articles, answer multitudes of questions and phone calls. Some members and advocates traveled great distances at their own expense to help with the cause.

Finally, after several years of effort, we are now reaping the rewards of all that hard work. The lights went on and you could barely tell. This prison will likely be a role model for future prisons built througout the country. We can only hope.

The many people who contributed are too numerous to name, but a few stand out. Current STM President Junie Esslinger, VP Brad Viejte and Site Manager John Martin, who all attended meetings and spent many cold nights photographing the sky for comparisons. Their efforts are greatly appreciated and proved very valuable. Of course, Bob Gent and Nancy Clanton of the IDA, as well as many other IDA members who offered their support. Not to mention the thousands of amateur astronomers and TM's who signed petitions to then Gov. Howard Dean, imploring him not to pursue a prison so close to an astronomical treasure and those who donated money for Stellafane's legal defense are appreciated for what they have done.

But one person, put more time and effort into this cause, much of it taking time away from her main source of income. Past STM President, Maryann Arrien fought tooth and nail to bring this issue to the forefront. In fact it was covered nationwide. More than likely without Maryann's efforts we wouldn't have the almost not noticeable prison that sits there now. Thank you Maryann and everyone else who helped in this noble cause. May others experience the same rewards that we have in the fight against light pollution.

Wayne "Waynbo" Zuhl
Secretary, Springfield Telescope Makers

POST A LINK TO YOUR AMATEUR ASTRONOMY/TELESCOPE CLUB OR YOUR ASTRONOMY/TELESCOPE EVENT
(Posted September 9, 2003)

If you send us the link to your amateur astronomy/telescope club or your amateur astronomy/telescope event, along with a logo, we will post it here on the Stellafane web pages. Thanks and clear skies!


Astronomical Society of Northern New England (Kennebunk, MA)	South Shore Astronomical Society (Norwell, MA)	North York Astronomical Asso. (Toronto, ONT)	Dalian Astronomy Popularization Association (Dalian, China)	Saint Petersburg Astronomy Club Mirror Lab (St. Petersburg, FL)

CLEAR SKIES PREVALED FOR THE MT. ASCUTNEY STAR PARTY
(Posted September 8, 2003)

The 2003 Stellafane convention is history! Click here to go to the 2003 post-convention pages.

Please send your photos and reports of the convention! Your input makes a difference. If you would like to send photos please send us an email and we will give you info so you can upload your photos to our FTP site. Thanks!

MARS IMAGES WITH THE SCHUPMANN TELESCOPE AT STELLAFANE BY PAUL VALELLI!
(Images aquired July 30, 2003 UT)


Visual Appearance	Average of 800 Images	Legend	Paul Valelli working on the Turret Telescope.

Click here to read how Paul Valelli aquired these images.

SEND YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE
"STELLAFANE MIRROR TESTER"
(Posted June 12, 2003)

Included as part of the Stellafane Amateur Telescope Making web pages are detailed directions on how to build a simple, yet very effective, mirror tester. We know that many people have built this tester as part of their own mirror making project. If so we'd love to hear about your experiences! Please send a report on your telescope project with a few photos and it will be posted. Also, if you have any comments, criticisms or improvements regarding the tester please send them too!