Convention 2012 & 2013 Dates Set, Board of Directors Re-elected
[2010-Nov-06]
The Springfield Telescope Makers held their annual
business meeting Saturday evening. Meeting dates were set
for 2011, the Dates for the 2012 &
2013 Stellafane Conventions were set, and all current officers and board
members were re-elected to their positions: Jeff Lowe, President; Gary
Cislak, Vice President; Dave Tabor, Secretary; Wayne Hilliard, Treasurer;
Dave Prowten & Ken Slater, board members. Since their is no new president,
our immediate past president and seventh member of the board remains John
Gallagher. Photos of board members are on our
About Page.
President Jeff Lowe
opened the meeting by stating "It was a good year for the Springfield
Telescope Makers" and he cited many successful events and accomplishments.
Secretary Dave Tabor reviewed membership changes in the past 12 months, and
with no losses and the addition of several new members, the club now had 129
members on the roster.
Stellafane visits Cavendish Elementary School
Fifth Graders use Galileo Scopes, supported
by the climbing structure, to observe the moon which is low in the sky.
Ken Slater of the Springfield Telescope Makers assists with telescope
aiming.
5th Graders Observe the MoonStellafane visits Cavendish 5th Grade
[2010-Oct-12]
For the second year, Ken Slater of the Springfield Telescope Makers was invited
to visit the Cavendish Elementary School Fifth Grade Class by teacher Ann Thompson to talk about
astronomical topics, telescope use, Stellafane history and observing techniques.
This year he assisted the students with building simple astrolabes
(devices for measuring the altitude of an object) and then helping with
their moon observation program by using the astrolabes outdoors to measure the
altitude of the daytime visible moon from the school yard. The students also
used telescopes to observe the daytime moon (see photo).
As was done
last year, this classroom visit will be followed up in a few weeks with a
field trip to Stellafane, to visit the historic landmark, explore the
Porter Turret Telescope, examine our iron meteorite and to let the students
try their hand at rough grinding a mirror.
Stellafane Open House & Star Party
[2010-Sep-18]
A thick cloud cover at dusk did not dampen the
sprits of club members and guests on Saturday evening at the Stellafane Open
House and Star Party. We had a nice turnout, about 40 guests, with many children and young
people attending. Our early evening observing was limited to the moon
towards the east, where the cloud cover had a few holes with the Porter
Turret Telescope. Later Jupiter rose and that was the next target of
interest. As the evening wore one, the clouds relented, and more objects
were visible. Down in the McGregor with it's computer controlled pointing, a
variety of objects were being check out.
Inside the clubhouse, a warm
fire burned in the fireplace. Hot cider and coffee were available, as well
as lasagna, salad, apples and cookies for those who wanted more substance,
prepared by the Breunings and Wilders. Tours were given of the Clubhouse and
Porter Turret, and folks relaxed around the fire and renewed old friendships
or made new ones. A very nice evening even with the challenging clouds.
New Stellafane Public Event Announcement E-Mail List
[2010-Sep-15]
Stellafane now has an self-service e-mail list for
the general public who wants to be notified or reminded about Stellafane
sponsored public events such as the Stellafane Convention and Stellafane
Public Star parties. See Stellafane
Announcements for more details and to sign up.
Stellafane's New Sawmill
Final assembly of the new sawmill. Dave Tabor, Gary Cislak,
Mario Antonucci, Joel Nedbala and Al Monkowski put on the final few parts.
Final Assembly of the new Sawmill
Stellafane's New Sawmill
We used a short pine log for testing, and were pleased with the initial
results. Test boards lay to the side with the sawdust. It took about 30 seconds to saw each plank.
'First Sawdust' and test boards
'First Sawdust' on new Stellafane Sawmill
[2010-Sep-11]
At Stellafane, we take down a lot of trees every
spring for safety's sake; winter damage often makes these trees a hazard and
we would not want anyone to get hurt. Previously, they would just be dragged
into the woods and/or cut up for firewood. We also use a lot of lumber to
repair our buildings and improve the site, and occasionally to build a new
structure. The club decided that an investment in a sawmill would quickly be
paid back by a substantial savings in purchased lumber.
We purchased
a sawmill this spring, but these units have become so popular that delivery
did not occur until last week. At our club meeting on Saturday we had a lot
of fun assembling our new sawmill. By the end of the day we had it running,
and made 'first sawdust' with it (a lot like 'first light' on a telescope).
It still needs some fine adjustments but worked surprisingly well right from
the start. It can handle 13 foot logs up to 34 inches in diameter with a
maximum cut width of 28 inches.
Over the winter it will live in the
pavilion, and we will saw lumber for a new saw mill shed to be erected in
the spring. We have stocked piled logs from this spring's hazardous tree
cleanup for this purpose. The saw mill will be permanently located to
the east of our convention area in 'equipment alley' - a remote area on our
property most visitors to Stellafane do not ever see.
YouTube Video of
assembly & operation by Wayne Hilliard.
Saint-Gaudens Star Party a Great Success
[2010-Sep-08]
With more than
60 people attending and the weather cooperating, the star party held on September
4th at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in cooperation with the National Park
Service was a success. At 8:00 PM Rick Kendall of the National Park Service
started with an excellent, brief presentation on light pollution in the visitor's
center to the assembled crowed. Carl Malikowski of the Springfield Telescope Makers
then gave a talk on the history of astronomy in the area, and showed our Porter
Garden Telescope to the visitors.
Meanwhile other club members had set up
scopes on the lawn. It was a pleasant, cool, dry evening with very clear, dark sky
among some here-and-there clouds. Mostly it was clear overhead. The darkness was
needed because we had only deep-sky objects available. Venus had set in the trees,
and Jupiter wasn't up yet. However, items from Alcor/Mizar to the Ring, Dumbbell
Nebula and several of our favorite clusters (M13, M22) were easy to see. Iliana
called out, "I have Brocchi's Cluster" -- a favorite of hers -- and Brad Vietje
answered (to torment her!) "You mean the COATHANGER!?" She had an Astroscan with
her, which showed it well. Club members everywhere found friendly and inquisitive
guests, who seemed to enjoy the views, asked lots of questions, and took an interest
in our explanations. The crowd gradually thinned out, and around 10:45 PM it was
almost clouded over and the last of us headed for home after a real evening of observing
fun and sharing with an enthusiastic audience. The Club members and the Ranger agreed
that we want to do it again, it was a lot of fun for all.
Stellafane Hosts Two Free September Star Parties
[2010-Aug-30]
Stellafane will host two free September Star Parties (Public Observing Sessions).
On Saturday, September 4th, 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 18th, 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 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 Commemorative 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 explains the workings of the Schupmann 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 spaghetti 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.
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 gave us ample opportunity to talk
about who we are and why we do this. (by Jeff Lowe, President)
[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.
