2010 Stellafane News
(Scroll down for Events)

• Stellafane Hosts Two Free September Star Parties
  [2010-Aug-30] Stellafane will host two free September Star Parties (Public Observing Sessions).
  
  On Saturday, September 4^th, on Labor Day Weekend,  Stellafane and the National Park Service will co-host a star party at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, NH (See link for directions). This event will start at 8:00 PM with a talk about the history of astronomy in the Upper Valley area of the Connecticut River in the park visitor center. After dusk, members of the Springfield Telescope Makers will have their telescopes available for viewing a variety of celestial objects, and they describe what you are seeing through the telescope and answer any questions you may have. For more information, see the Press Release for this Event.
  
  On Saturday, September 18^th, the Springfield Telescope Makers will hold a Stellafane Open House (also known as out annual "Up all night star party"). Our two observatories will be open for viewing, and many member telescopes will also be available. Before twilight, we will offer tours of the Stellafane Observatory National Historic Landmark. The event starts at 7:00 PM and ends whenever we all get tired! Come for whatever time you want. This event is located on Breezy Hill at Stellafane, follow the signs along Breezy Hill Road or see these Directions. For further information call (603) 865-5476. (PDF Flyer)
• JOHN BORTLE wins 2010 Walter Scott Houston Award &
  SAM STORCH wins NERAL Special Service Award
  [2010-Jul-13] It is my great pleasure to announce that this year's WALTER SCOTT HOUSTON AWARD of the North East Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) is being awarded to JOHN BORTLE of Stormville, New York at this year's Stellafane Convention in Springfield, Vermont on Saturday evening, August 7, 2010. John is probably best known for the "Bortle Dark Sky Scale" to categorize light pollution. He has been to about 40 Stellafane Conventions, and has been extremely active in the AAVSO not only with his observations, but also as the editor of their newsletter for many years. He is also known for his Comet Digest in Sky & Telescope magazine, and has contributed a great deal of data on comets to International Comet Quarterly. As a prolific observer, author and astronomy educator and lecturer who knew Scotty Houston, we are very happy to present this award to this man who carries on Scotty's work so well.
  
  This year we learned that a very valued person to the North East Region would be moving to Florida by the end of the Summer. So we decided that we should recognize his contribution to the North East before he leaves. SAM STORCH, another astronomy icon often seen at Stellafane, will be receiving the NERAL SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD for his work in Astronomy Education. With his lectures at New York City's Hayden Planetarium and the Edwin P. Hubble Planetarium in Brooklyn, Sam has guided the careers of so many astronomy students and has pointed some of them to professional careers in astronomy. His services as as Vice-president and newsletter editor of the Astronomical Society of Long Island, and as the Secretary of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society have been substantial. So to Professor Storch, we say that we will miss you very much here in the North East, but your service to astronomy in our region will not be forgotten.
  
  On behalf of the North East Region of the Astronomical League, we are very pleased to give these awards to these two distinguished colleagues in astronomy, John Bortle and Sam Storch. Congratulations to you both!
  
  Very sincerely,
  Maryann Arrien Chair: NERAL The North East Region of the Astronomical League
  NERAL Regional Representative: Susan Rose
  NERAL Secretary: Alan Rifkin
  NERAL Treasurer: Richard Roberts
  
  NERAL MEETING NOTICE: Our Annual Business Meeting will take place at the Stellafane Convention On Saturday, July 7th at 5:00 pm under the Food Tent. The public is welcome to our meetings.
• 

  2010 Spring Camporee

  The Calvin Coolidge District (Southeastern Vermont) 2010 Camporee Commemerative Patch.

  Camporee Patch
  Stellafane Hosts Scout Camporee
  [2010-May-16] The Springfield Telescope Makers hosted Vermont’s Calvin Coolidge District Boy Scout Spring Camporee this past weekend, May 7-9. Over 100 boy scouts and leaders from all over southern Vermont enjoyed many activities from model rocketry and Space Exploration to basic astronomy, Deep Space objects and Light Pollution Education. Some, who had never looked through a telescope, were able to experience Saturn and Mars through Stellafane’s world famous Schupmann telescope at the McGregor Observatory.
  
  The Scout program consisted of a number of Astronomy merit badge stations that boys would visit, which included a Planet walk, Telescope history, types and their purposes, Deep Space Observing, the Sun and a number of others. Paul Valleli agreed to do constellations study and locate them if it was clear (which it wasn't). Paul set up posters showing the important constellations mounted on display boards, but they began falling off as the dampness increased. He finally ended up using them as flash cards for the ten scouts doing that Merit Badge requirement. Melinda Callis, Jerry DeLuca, and Carl Malikowski are Merit Badge counselors and were able to sign off on a number of boys who completed their Astronomy merit badge. Gary Cislak and Al Rifkin were able to get a number of rockets into the air and teach more about the history of space exploration. Another well received activity was Ray Morits' hands-on mirror grinding demonstration, where anyone could try their hand at pushing around some 220 grit, using the 16” tile tool, on the 27” mirror blank.
  
  
  

  2010 Spring Camporee

  Cub Scout Program in the McGregor Observatory library.

  Cub Scout Program
  The Boy Scouts were joined for daytime activities by more than 50 Cub Scouts, who were treated to their own stellar program, led by Kris Larsen, which focused on requirements for the Cub Scout Astronomy belt loop.
  
  
  

  2010 Spring Camporee

  Award presented to the Springfield telescope Makers at the Saturday Night Program.

  Award presented to Stellafane
  Saturday evening, STM members were treated to dinner and judged a patrol cook-off contest in which a number of troops participated. Although a thunderstorm and high winds cut the event short, judges were still treated to some very outstanding food, including pizza cooked in a Dutch oven, an excellent Dutch oven stew, and an entire turkey dinner (complete with stuffing, sweet potatoes, a stir-fry dish with rice and dessert) cooked right in a campsite! Following, was the scout campfire program which was moved at the last minute to the Flanders Pavilion with everyone dry and safe from the weather. The scouts presented the Springfield Telescope Makers with an award honoring this event and each STM member who participated was awarded an official Camporee patch, complete with the Stellafane logo.
  
  In spite of less than perfect conditions, Jeff Lowe, Dave Tabor, Zhenya and Carl Malikowski, and Ray Morits, along with other members were busy manning the McGregor Observatory both evenings. Although this was difficult with the ever changing cloud patterns and come-and-go 'sucker' holes, several planets and deep sky objects were observed. During several intervals of clouds that prevented viewing, scouts were treated to some discussions on how they could get started in astronomy.
  
  Despite the strange weather over the weekend, the weekend was a huge success. The entire STM staff and the scout leaders agreed that we should try to do this again, hopefully without the extra excitement of high wind, hail, ice, snowflakes and thunderstorms.
  
  
  

  2010 Spring Camporee

  Blastoff! A scout (center under tent) launches a rocket they built that morning.

  Blastoff!
  Rocketry: As the scouts began pouring into the pavilion, seeking shelter from the early Saturday morning downpours, they quickly noticed a display of several different kinds of model rockets and immediately gravitated to them. The display consisted of several different models including scale models of a Mercury Redstone, a three stage payload rocket, boost gliders and a high powered 6 foot tall missile. A quick question and answer session took place, and the scouts were thrilled to discover that they would be building and flying their own model rockets
  
  Stellafane VP Gary Cislak instructed the scouts in the construction of model rockets. The Scouts were divided into groups of 3 and provided a rocket kit and all the materials needed to build it. Their goals were to properly follow instructions and create a flying model rocket that was stable, safe, recoverable and that would fly several missions. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! The scouts worked well in their groups, with only occasional tips and suggestions being offered by their instructor. When the morning was done over twenty rockets were made and ready for the afternoon launch!
  
  
  

  2010 Spring Camporee

  A crowd watches the rocket head for the clouds.

  Into the Clouds
  At 1:00 PM a large group of Scouts and Cub Scouts gathered In the observing field in front of the McGregor Observatory for the rocket launching demonstration. Weather Conditions were assessed and the decision was made that the launch would go on. A small tent was set up to protect the Launch crew from the elements, site manager John Martin worked along with Gary Cislak to prepare the models for flight, inspecting each rocket for proper construction, stability and insuring recovery devices and engines were properly installed and functional. Alan Rifkin took the role of Range Safety Officer, ensuring that the crowd was at a safe distance, doing final launch pad connections. Al did a great job engaging the crowd in impromptu educational quizzes and getting everybody to participate in the countdowns. Each scout had the opportunity to launch their rocket several times. Despite the drizzle, rain and shifting wind conditions over 40 launches were made! At times the rockets disappeared briefly into the clouds, but every model was recovered! Not a single rocket drifted away or was lost to a tree! That is rare even when flying in optimal conditions. It was certainly a great event!

  2010 Spring Camporee Carl Malikowski expalins the workings of the Shupmann telescope in the McGregor Observatory to a group of cub scouts. Cubs in the Observatory

  2010 Spring Camporee The chow line for a very welcome warm spagetti dinner. Chow Line

  2010 Spring Camporee Order of the Arrow Induction Ceremony held in Flanders Pavilion. Order of the Arrow Ceremony

  General report by Dave Tabor & Carl Malikowski with contribution from Paul Valleli; Rocketry report by Gary Cislak.
  Photos by Carl Malikowski & Paul Valleli. Edited by webmaster Ken Slater.

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• Stellafane at NEAF
  
  

  Stellafane at NEAF 2010

  Rick Hunter, Jeff Lowe, Liz Sharpe, Dennis Cassia and Wayne Zuhl work in the Stellafane Booth.

  Rick Hunter, Jeff Lowe, Liz Sharpe, Dennis Cassia and Wayne Zuhl work in the Stellafane Booth.
  

  Stellafane at NEAF 2010

  Liz Sharpe (right) describes grinding to two visitors to the Stellafane booth, one of whom is grinding on the bench.

  Liz Sharpe (right) describes grinding to two visitors to the Stellafane booth, one of whom is grinding on the bench.
  [2010-Apr-21] We had another great year at the North East Astronomy Forum (held Saturday-Sunday April 17-18) with over 100 people to trying their hand at pushing glass. The 8" demo blank was worked down to about an f/3.5 before turning it over and working tool on top. It is now fighting it's way back up to around an f/4. Liz Sharpe and Roger Williams were busy the entire time with grinding and the crunch of 80 grit could be heard an isle away. Rick Hunter did a great jog manning the Foucault tester explaining and demonstrating the test process. There were many people who stopped by to ask advice, reminisce over their own telescope making experiences, and thank us for our efforts. Both Dr. Al Monkowski's and Dave Kelly's telescopes provided great eye candy to entice people into the booth and and gave us ample opportunity to talk about who we are and why we do this. (by Jeff Lowe, President)
• Build a Dobsonian Telescope
  [2010-Mar-05] We are creating a new section on the Stellafane web site which tells you how to build a 4- to 12-inch Dobsonian telescope, using parts your make or can buy. The plans are focused on first time telescope makers and are broken into two major parts: The Newtonian Optical Tube and the Dobsonian Mount. We are starting this section in honor of the upcoming 75th Stellafane Convention on August 5-8 this year. At the time of this writing, the plans have been published up to the primary mirror cell. The focuser and diagonal are being worked on and will be published shortly, the entire scope will be done well ahead of the August convention. Follow along, and bring a home made telescope to Convention this year!
• 
  Stellafane on TV: Emerging Science Series
  [2010-Feb-03] The Vermont Public Television (VPT) series Emerging Science featured the 2009 Stellafane Convention and several members of the Springfield Telescope Makers in the series premier on February 2nd. "This episode explores the wonders of the cosmos with two of Vermont's leading astronomical physicists. John O'Meara of St. Michael's College is using infrared technology to view galaxy formations 12 billion light years away. Joanna Rankin of the University of Vermont is using radio astronomy to explore one type of celestial body - the pulsar. Also, visits with astronauts Alan Bean and Jerry Carr." Alan Bean was interviewed at the Hartness House before his keynote speech at our convention. Click the image to watch this 26:41 minute video.
• 

  1926 Stellafane Convention

  Group photo of visitors at the first convention in 1926. Albert Ingalls (far right), Russell Porter (second from right).

  
  Group photo of visitors at the First Convention in 1926.
  Albert Ingalls (far right),
  Russell Porter (left of Ingalls).
  Historic Convention Photos
  [2010-Jan-21] We have added a new web page of Historic Convention Photos starting with the first convention in 1926 through 1999 (we do not have photos from every convention). After 1999, we entered the digital photography and web era, and photos were included on our post-convention web pages, which are available from our main Convention page.
  
  We have also used this page to introduce a easier way to browse multiple photos - when you click on a photo, it expands right were you are, and you man navigate through all the photos on the page without leaving that page. A slide show option is also available. You may try it in single photo mode by clicking on the photo at right.
  
  Thanks to club member Tom Spirock, who scanned many of the photos in our archive in 2000, which made them available for this new page. Thanks also to a couple of conventioneers who have contributed pictures. If you have photos to contribute, please see the directions on the page.  Thanks also to members Glenn Becker, Jay Drew, Dave Tabor and Wayne Zuhl who helped test the new photo viewing software.
  

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