2014 Convention Photos

Pre-Convention: Spectrohelioscope Foundation Work

Photos by Francis O'Reilly, STM

In the week before convention opened, we poured the footing for the new spectohelioscope shed. Dave Proten, who is in charge of construction, completed the first set of forms, and many members gathered mix and place the concrete. These are the pre-mixing shots, after we started making concrete, Franics was using a shovel and wheelbarrow, and not his camera.

The spectrohelioscope site, with the three largest forms complete. There are 6 footings and 3 optical piers in total.

Closeup of the forms; they are pinned to the rock with rebar. The mixer staqnds ready, along with sand and gravel.

John Martin brings another load of sand with the Kubota.

Each footing has a pocket carved into the bedrock to prevent it from slipping, and the rebar is expoxied in place to prevent the building lifting in the wind.

Ray Mortis and Dave Prowten wait for the others to arrive. The dog is Winter (John Martin's).

Ken and Jay arrive. Ken managed to get Jay to carry his hose, he must have some Huck Finn in him.

After convetnion, the remaining footings were completed. We will start working on the building as soon as the snow vanishes in spring 2015; there is a good possibility the spectohelioscope will be working for the 2015 Convention.

Other Pre-Convention Photos

Photos by Jay Drew, STM and Bert Willard, STM

Jay Drew painted the bench in front of the McGregor.	Carl Malikowski, Ken Slater and another member plan work for the day at pre-con.	Room with a View: Looking out from the outhouse near the clubhouse.	Thursday evening, members begin to gather for dinner and a club meeting.	President Dave Tabor waves at the camera as he waits for dinner and talks with members.	At the Thursday evening club meeting, Secretary Carl Malikowski reads the minutes as President Dave Tabor (standing) listens.
John Kelly next to Al Rifkin's portable observatory.	Evening shadows and colors as scopes cool down on Thursday evening.		Unloading the Leo Scanlon Telescope from a minivan.	Carrying the heavy scope down the path to the back door of the museum.	Safely in the museum on saw horses.

The last three photos show the Leo Scanlon Springfield Mount telescope as it arrived at the museum. Thanks to Gary Cislak (red shirt), four strong backs were able to carry it in with little trouble. This was purchased from the Amateur Astronomical Association of Pittsburg using funds from the Thursday Hartness House conference organized by John Briggs.

The Gate

First Contact: Welcoming arrivals to Convention.
Photos by Patrick & Steve Dodson, Jay Drew, Dave Siegrist and Ken Slater (all STM).

The gate crew relaxes during a lull. Members Al Tinker (white cap), Francis O'Reily, Kim & Dennis Cassia.

Kim Cassia works the front of the line...

...while Kris Larsen (in yellow) works the far end.

Some people get a special greeting upon arrival by Ken Slater.

Wolf 359 is a Red Dwarf star in Leo.

Stellafane Voyager Project

A teen construction project led by Paul Fucile; photos by various project members and STMs.
A working replica of the Voyager space probe was built, solar powered with working telemetry.
Program description is here.  

One of the first steps was to drill out and tap holes to the main module of the spacecraft to hold the flight computer. This was done by the Little Man Logical Devices group.	The ‘Porter Power Products’ space contractors assemble and test the power packs to run the electronics.	The McGregor Magnetic Innovations group prepared the solar panels. The real Voyager spacecraft does not have solar panels, but we opted for this substitute instead of using a thermal generator.	A member of the Pink House Telemetry group drills out one of the receiving antenna booms.	John Colt monitors the progress as the telemetry antennae are being assembled.	The YoYoDyne Propulsion team puts together the main support structure and the tram motor assembly.
One of the many steps during the assembly phase was putting together the propulsion assembly that zips the spacecraft along the line.	The Voyager spacecraft includes the ‘Gold Record’ that hopefully will bring the sounds of Earth to an extra-terrestrial society.	The transmitting dish antenna and gold records are being attached to the main module of the spacecraft	The array boom containing sensors for light, temperature, and magnetism is rigidly soldered in place.	A few finishing touches are required before the journey through the solar system can begin.	Success! Voyager has been launched! Some of the participants in the background show their enthusiasm!
A member of the Shupmann Space Sprockets group listens for the signal indicating that all systems are Go.	Solar Race: The Journey beyond the solar system has begun.	A close up view of the Stellafane Voyager Spacecraft from beyond the heliosphere.	Some of the participants show off their spacecraft prior to their ‘launch’.	The participants were assigned to teams to facilitate mass production of spacecraft; these are the team badges that were used.

Convention Photos

Photos by Patrick & Steve Dodson, STM

A panorama of the telescope field early Saturday morning before everyone has set up.			The sign on the clubhouse door invites you to come inside for telescope registration. Eileen Myers in blue club shirt.	Attendees examine the telescopes and observatories on the hill, and listen intently to what the builders have to say.	Al Rifkin in his rotating observatory, answers questions for conventioneers.
This big fork is from Florida, so it is not tipped up quite as much as Yankee forks are.	Mel Dawson with his 10-inc f/5.6 fork mount.	The big plywood box-beam construction of the fork makes it very stiff for its weight.	Steve Benson's tree scope is unusual but with very good craftsmanship.	Bingo the Goat was back this again this year - always photogenic!	Patrick & Steve's trailer and scopes on Sue's Field.
Photos from the Telescope Making for Teens workshop led by Steve Dodson
	Photos from the Telescope Making for Teens workshop led by Steve Dodson.	Photos from the Telescope Making for Teens workshop led by Steve Dodson.	Photos from the Telescope Making for Teens workshop led by Steve Dodson.	Photos from the Telescope Making for Teens workshop led by Steve Dodson.

Convention Photos

Photos by Jay Drew, STM

Morning Sun on the Clubhouse.	Restoration of a 1906 5-inch Clark Refractor.	A nicely boxed set of classic eyepieces.	Dave Kelly (camo), Phil Rounseville (stripes) chat near Dave's red Maksutov.	This beautiful scope was made by Normand Fullum.	This not-so-beautiful face was also made by Normand Fullum.
Heather Leathem sitting near Dave Groski's blue sheep sprinkler.	Webmaster Ken Slater takes a photo for the telescope competition page.	Patrick Dodson (left) waits while Steve Dodson (center) talks about his adjustable Dobsonian.	Francis O'Reily on the prowl with his camera.	The counterweight arm of the Porter Turret Telescope is used to steady a handheld camera.	Amiee & Claire Chang pose with their first telescope.
	Jim Daley (blue member's shirt) in the crowd at the telescope competition.	Steve Benson talks to Phil Harrington about his unique telescope.	The Judges (blue shirts) examine an entry: Tom Spirock, Dave Kelly, Jeff Lowe and Dave Groski.	More Judges: Mario Motta, Dave Kelly, Jeff Lowe, entrant Joseph Dechene(red), Chris Houghton (gray), Dave Groski, Tom Spirock (hidden, far right).

Convention Photos

Photos by Francis O'Reily, STM

Steven Bellavia with his 8" f/4 Newtonian astrograph.	The Chang Family - daughters Amiee and Claire made the two telescope on the right.	Bob Horton and his 4¼ f/6.6 red Newtonian; Jim Hendrickson in rear.	The telescope field north of the clubhouse.	A beautiful sky behind the Porter Turret Telescope.	Conventioneers gather on the clubhouse wall for the Telescope Field Walk.
Mike McCabe and his bright yellow binocular mount.	Dave Groski's Schiefspiegler with the clubhouse in the background.	John Allen with his PVC fork mount and a sun funnel on the refractor.	John LaShall points out a feature of his 5-inch refractor to an interested person.	Mike Linolt shows off his 8-inch f/3.7 Newtonian ball.	Inside the turret, painted sky blue, with the solar projection disk in place.
	People and Scopes from the Clubhouse.	Alan Siliski's beautiful digital spherometers on the clubhouse wall.	The Telescope Field Walk leaders in orange tour the telescopes on the field with expert commentary.	Tom Nolasco poses with the 10-inch f/8.62 Newtonian he built with Jim Taylor (not in photo).

Convention Photos

Photos by Ken Slater, STM

Mirror Making Demonstration
Ray stirs the pitch pot as Junie points out a feature of the red Dob on the table.	Ray describes pitch lap making as he waits for the pitch to melt to the right consistency.	Rich Hunter (center) talk with conventioneers in the ATM demo area.	A conventioneer tries his hand at grinding the 27-inch blank, while others encourage him.	Brad Vietje takes a spin with the 27-inch.	Dave Kelly (yellow shirt) talks about testing. Doug Arion (red shirt) holds a laptop connected to a camera on the tester, so everyone can see what day is talking about.
South Observing Field, McGregor and Domed Observatories
Mid-day on the south observing field, scopes tucked in under their blankets, napping until it gets dark.	Quite a gaggle (herd?) of refractors here - they are having their own convention!	Al Tinker, who leads the Solar System Walk, pauses to talk about Uranus on the South Observing Field.	Crawling into a big Dob to make some adjustments.	Ah, the landing gear was going down, and now it is being winched into it's trailer.	Glenn Becker on duty at the domed observatory in the late afternoon.
Looking over the South Observing Field from the McGregor Observatory, a quiet time in early afternoon.	A classic large Newtonian on a German Equatorial Mount, with plenty of counterweights.	Big Dob parts on the field, the shadows tell us it is getting assembled for the evening.	Looking north at the Dome and McGregor Observatories.	Inside the domed observatory, Al Rifkin points to the eyepiece on the Dino Argentini 10-inch Cassegrain.	Dr. Kris Larsen makes a point in the children's program in the McGregor.
Pavilion and Stellafane East
Carl Malikowski talks about Astrolabes.	Julie and Samantha Tabor staff the ice cream stand in the pavilion.	This poster in the pavilion lists all the STM club members who are hams.	Dr. Tom Spirock gives a presentation.	The food tent looks a bit different this year with a new vendor, but still good food.	Our Kubota tractor, the work horse of Stellafane, resting in the gravel pits.
Clubhouse, Porter Turret & Breezy Hill
Telescope competition registrars Cecilia and Katie at the registration desk.	Jay Drew (right) talks with someone on the clubhouse wall	Susanne Wieder and Dave Siegrist in front of the clubhouse.	Matt Considine tracks a sunspot in the Porter Turret Telescope.	Al Nagler and Steve Dodson talk in front of the clubhouse.	Attendees load onto the School Bus that will shuttle them to Stellafane East.
	Trudi and Tom Gorka in the clubhouse.	Dennis di Cicco check his phone in front of the clubhouse.	Steve Dodson with his adjustable Dobsonian.	Bert Willard staffs the Porter Turret during a quiet period.

Historic & Contemporary Blends

Blended Photos by Steve Hannah
You can see Stellafane's collection of original Historic Convention Photos here.
Note that not all contemporary photos below may be from the 2014 Convention.

The historic photo is from the 1936 convention. The clubhouse was not visible in that photo, as the was far more foliage on Breezy Hill then.

The historic photo is from the 1937 convention.

The historic photo is from the 1926 convention.

The historic photo is from the 1954 convention.

Garden Gazing Ball Photos

Photos by Peter Barvoets of Schenectady, NY

Inside the Porter Turret Telescope.

Outside the McGregor Observatory.

The clubhouse and it's 'patio'.

An off-axis shot of the clubhouse.

Part of the telescope field on Breezy Hill.

A pair of giant Dobs on the South Observing Field.

Astrophoto of Messier 13

Photo by Keith Goodale taken from Stellafane East on Friday, July 25

Messier 13 - See Photo page for imaging details.

Hardware & Exposures 9¼" SCT with f/6.3 focal reducer and Canon 60Da DLSR 27 x 6 minute sub exposures (Total Exposure: 2:42) 10 x 6 minute dark exposures 30 flats / 30 dark flats / 30 bias Software Backyard EOS (Capture) / PHD Guiding Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop CS6 / GradientXTermnotor / Diffraction Spikes Pro 3.0

Convention Photos

Photos by Sal LaRiccia

Mat Considine and Heather Leathem in the clubhouse.	Sal LaRiccia in front of the clubhouse.	One of the camping areas in Stellafane East.	A gaggle of small refractors in the swap area.	A good assortment of meteorites at the swap tables.	Hannah and Dennis di Cicco.
Dave Prowten (center) checks out the big blue Dob.	A wide view of the clubhouse and activity on Breezy Hill.	Phil Rounseville with his beautifully made telescope.	Breezy Hill panorama
Club historian Bert Willard in front of the clubhouse.	Dennis Cassia and John Bortle.	Ken Slater searching the filed for a telescope he has yet to photograph for the competition photos.	At the Bortle-Cassia camp, Al Nagler, Susanne Wieder, Dave Siegrist, Dave Prowten and Kim Cassia relax and enjoy snacks.	Al Nagler was surprised to receive an autographed photo of Alan Bean on the moon from Gary Cislak.	Dive Prowten at the Cassia-Bortle camp.

Convention Photos

Photos by Jude G

	Steven Bellavia's telescope being looked at by unknown conventioneers.	Bert Willard runs the Porter Turret Telescope for solar observing.	Four conventions talk on the north end of the Breezy Hill field.	Three scopes set up on Breezy Hill
	People gather in the amphitheater for the Saturday Evening Program.	The view from the back row as the sun sets in the amphitheater.	A star field over Stellafane.	Red lights reveal the all the people moving about the south observing field after dark. Also note the clouds along the horizon.

Convention Photos

Photos by Richard Sanderson

Jim Hendrickson in the museum.	Hal and Susan McAlister and Ken Launie at the Hartness House Workshop	Unknown conventioneer with a carved bear at a telescope.	Jim Steamer.	Mark Daley with his light weight telescope.	Dave Gallup and Mario Antonucci look over a scope in the swap area.
Joan Presz, Jack Megas and Sara Schechner at the swap tables.	Phil Harrington, a fixture at the swap tables year-after-year.	Ken Launie and Sara Schechner at the swap area.	Ed Frederick.	Sue French, Rich Sanderson and Alan French.	Paul Valleli.
Peter Talmadge with his shinny brass Clark.	Jim Beaty on Breezy Hill.	Rich Sanderson, Dave Gallup, Ron Woodland and Jack Megas.	Allen Tinker by the clubhouse.	Bob Horton.	Al Takeda with the DSLR he uses for astrophotography.

Convention Photos

Photos by Phillip Levine

Saturday Morning Swap Tables
The crowd grows at the swap table area.	Looking for bargains in the swap area.	Dennis di Cicco (with camera) talks with Phil Harrington and Al Rifkin.	Looking over classic scopes offered in the swap area.	Friends chat in the swap area. Al Takeda, center with camera.
		South Observing Field
		Stairway to Heaven.	South Observing Field.	Mans best friend with a fresh nail (claw) job.	Starting to set up for evening observing.
Solar Observing
Solar observing in hydrogen-alpha.	Solar observing in hydrogen-alpha with a binocular viewer.	A youngster views the sun.	Another youngster take a look at the sun.

Convention Photos

Photos by Dave Mitsky

Tents, Scopes and Cars all lined up on Sue's Field.	The Walter Scott Houston memorial in Houston Hollow near Pine Island.	The plaque honoring Walter Scott Houston and his Shadowgram Talks.	A medium sized Dob with a nice attached chart table.	This 18-inch f/4.5 Dob is fully accessorized. Is that a heated red coffer cup???	Juno 14-inch Dob ready for use.
Small footprint three-stalk Dob.	A 32-inch f/4 huge Dob, and a itsy-bitsy baby Dob too!	It looks like this Dob fits into a suitcase, or at least a small trunk.	Stellafane's 13-inch Schupmann in the McGregor Observatory (8-inch solar filter in place)	Welcome to Stellafane - we are glad you came!	The Fruit Stand - the shack at the gate.
Saturn, a stop on the Solar System Walk, along the road to the clubhouse.	A nicely made bowling-ball mount on Breezy Hill	The inside of the Porter Turret Telescope, east wall.	The south vertical Porter Sundial on the clubhouse - installed in July 1927.	Signs on the M44 shed were a couple of walks start out (looks like the sun fell off it's tripod!)	Cydonia is a geographic region on Mars (and a Vermont license plate - but the car should be red!).

Convention Photos

Photos by Dick Koolish

Rain at Stellafane? Nah, that can't be!	Handsome Mr. Bingo the goat with pretty spotted ears.	An Observing Tent on the South Observing Field.	The Little Man hanging over the clubhouse door.	Peter Barvoets takes one of his Gazing Ball photos (see them above on this page).	Questars are just elegant to look at and look through.
A simple but effective solar finder.	This scope has eliminated the middle of it's tube.	Normand Fullum has put a lot of knobs and handles on this beautiful scope.	This is Dave Kelly's Mac; you can see a lot of the details of the rotating tube cradle.	Mike Linolt shows off his 8-inch f/3.7 Newtonian ball mount with a fairly large ball base.	Ivano Dal Prete's first scope uses a smaller salad bowl 'ball' and a number of large food cans.

Convention Photos

Photos by Nate Prentice

Nine of the twelve photos in this group are taken with a very wide angle lens that creates some very striking photographs.
Fisheye view of the campground looking towards the swap area. The tree on the left is reasonably straight in person.	Fisheye view looking into the McGregor observatory at the Shupmann Telescope.	Fisheye view from inside the McGregor Observatory.	Martie (bottom) with her friend Marty the Martian (top).	Fisheye view of the serving area during breakfast at the food tent.	Eating area at the food tent - looks like it is lunchtime from the shadows.
Is that a Mountain Dew Shield on that SCT? Oh, no, looks like a competitor. OJ on the finder?	Fisheye view of Breezy Hill looking east ("Objects in photo are closer than they appear".)	Fisheye view of the clubhouse - one of the more unique perspectives we have seen.	Fisheye view of the meeting room in the clubhouse.	Fisheye view of the clubhouse kitchen.	Fisheye view of the Porter Turret warming area.
The Mirror and Telescope Making Demonstration Area.
Junie Esslinger demonstrates how to make a plaster tool.	Brad Vietje demonstrates rough grinding.	A club member holds up a grit display describing how and when various grits are used.	Rick Hunter demonstrates fine grinding.	Ray Morits shows how to bevel a mirror blank.	Ray Morits explains that grinding does also damage the glass surface - but we use smaller and smaller grit to repair it.
Night Images and Astrophotography.
McGregor Observatory and the South Observing Field under the stars.	Fisheye view of the stars over Stellafane East.	Waiting in line for a view at convention.	McGregor Observatory and the South Observing Field under the stars.	Fisheye view of the stars over Stellafane East. Airplane lower left.	Glowing Tents under the stars in the camping area.

The Saturday Evening Program

Photos by Ken Slater, STM, Panoramas by Sal LaRiccia

The Springfield Telescope Makers wait for the program to start.	Ray Morits holds raffle tickets he bought with high hopes of wining. Francis and Eileen are behind him, Jack to the right.	Dr. Christina Dunn, keynote speaker. Brad Vietje on the left, Rick Hunter in the rear.	'Old Uncle Bill', our long-time AV person, at the controls. Sadly, Bill passed away a few months after convention, quite unexpectedly. Wayne Zuhl to the left.	Susanne Wieder on top of the movie screen. She climbs a lot of four thousand footers in the northeast, so this was not much of a challenge.	Master of Ceremonies John Gallagher gets the program under way.
The Youngest at Stellafane this year (Name needed - e-mail us if you can provide it.)	The Oldest at Stellafane this Year: Long time Stellafaner Max Fuchs, holding the Youngest for this photo.	lance Clarke, a.k.a 'North Star' (trail name) from Toronto, Canada hiked the Long Trail during June and July, then hitchhiked down to Springfield to attend convention.	STM President Dave tabor draws raffle tickets which are called out by MC John Gallagher.	Long time conventioneer Jim Hendrickson was won the grand prize, the most expensive set of Nagler eyepieces worth nearly $3,000.	Steve Dodson presents a scope to the winner from the Telescope Making for Teens program.
	Head Optical Judge Rick Hunter talks about the high quality of entries this year.	Winners of the telescope Competition waiting for the announcement of the individual awards.	Andy Paniros presents the Shadowgram talk about John Dobson.	Dr. Christina Dunn presents the keynote speech on the EELT.
The Springfield Telescope Makers			Telescope Competition Winners

Convention is Over

Photos by Francis O'Reilly, STM and Webcam Capture by Jay Drew, STM

Sunday morning we move the "Fruit Stand" (Entry Booth) back to winter storage by the Mcgregor Observatory. And Monday, the Porta-Poties leave the site. That's it until next year...

John Martin drives up Jordan Road, relying on Dave Tabor to be his eyes - he can't see around the Fruite Stand.

Carefully making the turn into Stellafane.

Moving slowly up the slight hill towards the Mcgregor Observatory.

Positioning the Fruit Stand into the storage spot.

Dave Prowten and Dave Tabor adjust the timber it rests on during the winter.

Our bunkhouse webcam shows the Porta-Potties leaving Stellafane on Monday.