2009 Stellafane Convention Telescope Competition
All of the Telescopes Entered in the Competition
Winners of the Optical & Mechanical Competition

Convention attendees can enter their home-made telescopes in the Optical and/or Mechanical competition. Awards are given for best Optical Performance [Small Newtonian 12.0" and under; Large Newtonian 12.5" and over; Compound Optical System] and for several Mechanical Categories [mechanical design, workmanship, innovative component, junior (under 16), special (for items that are not complete telescopes)]. The optical competition was completed on Friday night; the Mechanical Judging was done on Saturday.

The Optical Judges for 2009 were: Rick Hunter (head judge), Junie Esslinger, Alan French*, Dave McGaw, Scott Milligan, Dick Parker, Phil Rounseville, and Don Schwarzkopf.

The Mechanical Judges for 2009 were: Chris Houghton (head judge), George East*, Jeff Lowe, Wayne Hilliard,  Dave Kelly, Mario Motta, and Tom Spirock.

* Judges who are not members of the Springfield Telescope Makers

The judging administrative team for 2009: Iliana Filby, Joyce Sinnot and Jay Speigal. The optical 'runners' were Jack Heinzmann, Linda Ide, Dave Prowten and Brad Vietje.

See the Saturday Night Awards Ceremony on our video page.

Below you will see up to four pictures of each telescope entered in the competition (fewer if we have less than four available, in some cases I received no photos of some entered telescopes, especially true of some optical only entries that were not available in daylight for photography) and basic information about the telescope and maker, including any awards won. Listed in order of entry.

Photos by the Springfield Telescope Makers: Ken Slater

				Name: Paul A. Woodell From: Danbury, CT Instrument: 8" f/8 Newt on GEM, Restoration Entered: [01] Mechanical Antique Restoration Award

				Name: Scott Jamieson From: Eagle, WI Instrument: 15" f/4.5 Newt Entered: [02] Mechanical This Telescope was not available for judging

				Name: Gerry Logan From: Lakewood, CA Instrument: 6" f/15 Maksutov on GEM Entered: [03] Optical & Mechanical 1st Place Optical, Compound Optics 1st Place Mechanical Design 1st Place Craftsmanship Innovative Component Award: Eyepiece Adapter & Counterweight Combo

				Name: Larry Shaper From: Thetford Center, VT Instrument: 8" f/8.7 Newt-Dob Entered: [04] Optical & Mechanical Innovative Component Award: 8-Legged Wire Spider

				Name: Jay M. Scheuerle From: Philadelphia, PA Instrument: 6" f/5 Newt on Ball Mount Entered: [05]  Mechanical

				Name: Jay M. Scheuerle From: Philadelphia, PA Instrument: 4.5" f/8 Newt on Ball Mount Entered: [06] Mechanical

				Name: Michael Hill From: Marlborough, MA Instrument: 10" f/5 Newt on Fork Mount Entered: [07] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Shane & Dylan LaPierre From: Torrington, CT Instrument: 8" f/5 Newt-Dob Entered: [08] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Peter A. Serrada From: Rome, ME Instrument: 6" f/8.9 Newt-Dob Entered: [09] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Robert A. Midiri From: Coatesville, PA Instrument: 10" f/7.3 Newt-Dob Entered: [10] Optical 2nd Place Optical (Tie), 12" or Smaller

				Name: William N. Hurley From: Coventry, CT Instrument: 8" f/6.5 Newt-Dob Entered: [11] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Andrew Johnston From: Newton, MA Instrument: 12.5" f/4.3 Newt-Dob Entered: [12] Optical

				Name: Robert P. Horton From: Foster, RI Instrument: 6" f/6 Newt on Alt-Az Mount Entered: [13] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Adam Miller From: East Hartford, CT Instrument: 8" f/5.9 Newt-Dob Entered: [14] Optical & Mechanical Telescope was not available for judging

				Name: Douglas N. Arion From: Pleasant Prairie, WI Instrument: 10" f/6.1 Newt on Ball Mount Entered: [15] Optical & Mechanical 2nd Place Optical (Tie), 12" or Smaller 4th Place Mechanical Design 3rd Place Craftsmanship Innovative Component Award: Single Screw Diagonal Adjust

				Name: Robert C. Mohr From: Nazareth, PA Instrument: 10" f/4.7 Newt-Dob Entered: [16] Mechanical

				Name: James F. Podpolucha From: Milford, CT Instrument: 12½" f/6 Newt-Dob Entered: [17] Optical 2nd Place Optical, Over 12"

				Name: Aaron L. Sliski From: Lincoln, MA Instrument: 6" f/8 Newt-Dob Entered: [18] Optical & Mechanical Junior Mechanical Award

				Name: Alan Sliski From: Lincoln, MA Instrument: 3" f/8 Refractor (Terrestrial) Restoration Entered: [19] Mechanical

				Name: John A. Szelka From: Johnson, RI Instrument: 12½" f/5 Entered: [20] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Stuart E. Danforth From: Tolland, CT Instrument: 8" f/8 Newt on Alt-Az Pipe Mount Entered: [21] Mechanical

				Name: Steven J. Pellarin From: LaSalle, Ontario Instrument: 28" f/3.164 Newt-Dob Entered: [22] Mechanical 2nd Place Mechanical Design 2nd Place Craftsmanship

				Name: Jeff A. Parenteau From: Gilsum, NH Instrument: 10" f/5.5 Newt-Dob Constructed in 8 days Entered: [23] Optical & Mechanical 1st Place Optical, 12" or Smaller

				Name: Jeff A. Parenteau From: Gilsum, NH Instrument: 12½" f/5.6 Newt-Dob Entered: [24] Optical & Mechanical 1st Place Optical, Over 12"

				Name: Allen T. Hall From: Ellington, CT Instrument: Wedge Tester & Sphereometer Entered: [25] Mechanical Special Mechanical Award

				Name: Kevin J. McCarthy From: Plastow, NH Instrument: 12½" f/4.5 Newt-Dob Entered: [26] Mechanical 3rd Place Mechanical Design 4th Place Craftsmanship

				Name: Terry Ryan From: Biddeford, ME Instrument: 8" f/3.5 Newt on Ball Mount Entered: [27] Mechanical

				Name: Matthew J. Miller From: Cambridge, England Instrument: 8¼" f/3.5 Newt Handheld Entered: [28] Optical & Mechanical

				Name: Sara J. Schechner From: West Newton, MA Instrument: Handmade Quilt of USNO Alvan Clark Refractor Entered: [29] Mechanical Special Mechanical Award

				Name: John (Jack) David Heinzmann From: Rockport, ME Instrument: 8" f/10 Schmitt-Cass on Springfield Mount Entered: [30] Mechanical

				Name: Real Manseau From: Drummondville, Quebec Instrument: 5 Models of Galilean Refractors Entered: [31] Mechanical

Name: Gary L. Fuchs From: Easton, PA Instrument: 4¼" f/27 Schiefspiegler-GEM Entered: [32] Mechanical

Newt = Newtonian Reflector; Dob = Dobsonian Mount;
GEM = German Equatorial Mount; Ball = Ball or Hemispherical Mount

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