2017 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-inches or smaller; Large Newtonian over 12-inches; Compound Optical System] and for several Mechanical Categories [mechanical design, workmanship, innovative component, junior (under 16), special (for items that are not complete telescopes)].

In all categories, entrants who have previously won a first place in a category or are professionals in the field must be entered in the Master Class category. Entrants may also voluntarily enter in this category if they wish.

First homemade telescope recognition: If you brought your first homemade telescope and displayed it on Breezy Hill, you got a certificate and your name was shown on the screen at the Saturday Night Program. These scopes are identified as First Scope in the listings.

The optical competition was completed on Friday night; the mechanical judging was done on Saturday morning and awards were passed out at the Saturday evening program.

The Head Optical Judge for 2017 was Rick Hunter. Dave McGaw, Francis O'Reilly, Junie Esslinger, Dick Parker, Michael Patterson and Chris Stewart were optical judges. Steven Forbes and Katie Shusdock were the optical runners.

The Head Mechanical Judge for 2017 was Chris Houghton. Allen Hall, Dick Parker, Jeff Lowe, Wayne Hilliard, and Tom Spirock were mechanical judges.

The telescope competition registrars were Cecilia Detrich and Katie Shusdock. Scope photos by Jay Drew.

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 we 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.

Note: After you expand a photo, you can use the arrow keys to move forward and back, and the spacebar starts a slide show.

Entry 01 John M. Nigro of Averill Park, NY: 6-in f/5.6 Newt-GEM

Name: John M. Nigro
From: Averill Park, NY
Instrument: 6-in f/5.6 Newt-GEM
Entry: [01] Optical & Mechanical

Name: John J. Symborski
From: Pottstown, PA
Instrument: 10-in f/7.5 Newt-Dob
Entry: [02] MC-Optical & Mechanical

Entry 03 James M. Synge of Lexington, MA: 2.4-in f/1.4 Refractor-GEM
Transiting Exoplanet Detector
3rd Place Special Award

Name: James M. Synge
From: Lexington, MA
Instrument: 2.4-in f/1.4 Refractor-GEM
Transiting Exoplanet Detector
Entry: [03] Mechanical First Scope
3rd Place Special Award

Entry 04 Scott Reeves of Valley Cottage, NY: 8-in f/4.5 Newt-Dob

Name: Scott Reeves
From: Valley Cottage, NY
Instrument: 8-in f/4.5 Newt-Dob
Entry: [04] Mechanical

Entry 05 David Kelly of Easthampton, MA: 12½-in f/4.5 Newt-Dob
2nd Place Small Newtonian MC-Optical; 1st Place MC-Mechancial Design; 1st Place MC-Craftsmanship

Name: David Kelly
From: Easthampton, MA
Instrument: 12½-in f/4.5 Newt-Dob
Entry: [05] MC-Optical & MC-Mechanical
2nd Place Small Newtonian MC-Optical
1st Place MC-Mechancial Design
1st Place MC-Craftsmanship

Entry 06 Robert P. Horton of Foster, RI: 6-in f/6.5 Newt-GEM
1st Place Small Newtonian MC-Optical

Name: Robert P. Horton
From: Foster, RI
Instrument: 6-in f/6.5 Newt-GEM
Entry: [06] MC-Optical
1st Place Small Newtonian MC-Optical

Entry 07 Pierre Lemay of Blainville, Canada: 8-in f/5 Newt on Ball Mount
2nd Place MC-Mechancial Design; 3rd Place Innovative Component Award

Name: Pierre Lemay
From: Blainville, Canada
Instrument: 8-in f/5 Newt on Ball Mount
Entry: [07] Optical & MC-Mechanical
2nd Place MC-Mechancial Design
3rd Place Innovative Component Award

Entry 08 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Stewart Mount
1st Place Special Award

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Stewart Mount
Entry: [08] Mechanical
1st Place Special Award

Entry 09 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Tri-rod Sector Drive

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Tri-rod Sector Drive
Entry: [09] Mechanical

Entry 10 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Truss Coupling
Honorable Mention Innovative Component Award

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Truss Coupling
Entry: [10] Mechanical
Honorable Mention Innovative Component Award

Entry 11 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Simple Spider

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Simple Spider
Entry: [11] Mechanical

Entry 12 Chris Stewart (Design),
Johan Smit (Build) of South Africa: Spiford Focuser

Name: Chris Stewart (Design),
Johan Smit (Build)
From: South Africa
Instrument: Spiford Focuser
Entry: [12] Mechanical

Entry 13 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Infinity Finder
Honorable Mention Innovative Component Award

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Infinity Finder
Entry: [13] Mechanical
Honorable Mention Innovative Component Award

Entry 14 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Ambidexerous Bino Finder

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Ambidexerous Bino Finder
Entry: [14] Mechanical

Entry 15 Chris Stewart, ASSA of South Africa: ASSA Crayford

Name: Chris Stewart, ASSA
From: South Africa
Instrument: ASSA Crayford
Entry: [15] Mechanical

Entry 16 James D. Lowenthal of Northampton, MA: 6-in f/8 Newt-GEM
2nd Place Small Newtonian Optical

Name: James D. Lowenthal
From: Northampton, MA
Instrument: 6-in f/8 Newt-GEM
Entry: [16] Optical & Mechanical
2nd Place Small Newtonian Optical

Entry 17 Eric R. Perret of Milford, CT: 2-in f/10 Refractor-GEM

Name: Eric R. Perret
From: Milford, CT
Instrument: 2-in f/10 Refractor-GEM
Entry: [17] Mechanical

Entry 18 Alan Ward of Sudbury, ON: 6-in f/10 Refractor-AltAz
1st Place Compound MC-Optical; 2nd Place Special Award

Name: Alan Ward
From: Sudbury, ON
Instrument: 6-in f/10 Refractor-AltAz
Entry: [18] MC-Optical & MC-Mechanical
1st Place Compound MC-Optical
2nd Place Special Award

Entry 19 Chris Stewart of South Africa: Helical Focuser

Name: Chris Stewart
From: South Africa
Instrument: Helical Focuser
Entry: [19] Mechanical
Use six ball bearings slightly inclined for helical action.

Entry 20 Johan Smit (via Chris Stewart) of South Africa: Mirror Cell with X-Y adjustment

Name: Johan Smit (via Chris Stewart)
From: South Africa
Instrument: Mirror Cell with X-Y adjustment
Entry: [20] Mechanical

Entry 21 Michael Hill of Marlboro, MA: 4¼-in f/10 Newt-AltAz
1st Place Small Newtonian Optical; 3rd Place Craftsmanship (Tie with #34)

Name: Michael Hill
From: Marlboro, MA
Instrument: 4¼-in f/10 Newt-AltAz
Entry: [21] Mechanical
1st Place Small Newtonian Optical
3rd Place Craftsmanship (Tie with #34)

Entry 22 Tom Kiehl of Canton, OH: 10-in f/5 Newt-GEM
1st Place Antique Restoration Award

Name: Tom Kiehl
From: Canton, OH
Instrument: 10-in f/5 Newt-GEM
Entry: [22] MC-Mechanical
1st Place Antique Restoration Award

Entry 23 Dominic 'Gilligan' Fucile of Waquoit, MA: Gilligan's Island Refractor

Name: Dominic 'Gilligan' Fucile
From: Waquoit, MA
Instrument: Gilligan's Island Refractor
Entry: [23] Mechanical

Entry 24 George Miscally of Lyme, NH: Solar Scope-Mod Equitorial

Name: George Miscally
From: Lyme, NH
Instrument: Solar Scope-Mod Equitorial
Entry: [24] Mechanical First Scope

Entry 25 John Paladini of Hopac, NY: Eyepiece
1st Place Innovative Component Award

Name: John Paladini
From: Hopac, NY
Instrument: Eyepiece
Entry: [25] Mechanical
1st Place Innovative Component Award

Entry 26 Larry Shaper of Thetford Center, VT: 10¾-in f/6.5 Newt-Dob
3rd Place Small Newtonian Optical; 2nd Place Mechanical Design

Name: Larry Shaper
From: Thetford Center, VT
Instrument: 10¾-in f/6.5 Newt-Dob
Entry: [26] Optical & Mechanical
3rd Place Small Newtonian Optical
2nd Place Mechanical Design

Entry 27 Bert Willard of Carlise, MA: 5-in f/7.7 Off-axis Parabola-GEM

Name: Bert Willard
From: Carlise, MA
Instrument: 5-in f/7.7 Off-axis Parabola-GEM
Entry: [27] Mechanical

Entry: [28] (Widthdrawn)

Entry 29 Russel Jolly of Rowe, MA: 10-in f/5.6 Newt-Dob
3rd Place Mechanical Design; 2nd Place Craftsmanship

Name: Russel Jolly
From: Rowe, MA
Instrument: 10-in f/5.6 Newt-Dob
Entry: [29] Mechanical
3rd Place Mechanical Design
2nd Place Craftsmanship

Entry 30 Russel Jolly of Rowe, MA: 2½-in f/17 Refractor-GEM

Name: Russel Jolly
From: Rowe, MA
Instrument: 2½-in f/17 Refractor-GEM
Entry: [30] Mechanical

Entry 31 Steve Benson of Walpole, NH: 6-in f/10 Refractor-GEM (Tube Only)
2nd Place Compound MC-Optical

Name: Steve Benson
From: Walpole, NH
Instrument: 6-in f/10 Refractor-GEM (Tube Only)
Entry: [31] MC-Optical & Mechanical
2nd Place Compound MC-Optical

Entry 32 Phil Harrington of Milles Place, NY: Solar Scope-Milk Crate

Name: Phil Harrington
From: Milles Place, NY
Instrument: Solar Scope-Milk Crate
Entry: [32] Mechanical

Entry 33 Joe Lemay of Falmouth, MA: 4¼-in f/4 Newt-Dob
Carry-on Scope
Honorable Mention Mechanical Design

Name: Joe Lemay
From: Falmouth, MA
Instrument: 4¼-in f/4 Newt-Dob
Carry-on Scope
Entry: [33] Mechanical
Honorable Mention Mechanical Design

Entry 34 Ed Jones of Cincinnati, OH: Schiefspiegler-AltAz
1st Place Mech Design (Tie with #35); 3rd Place Craftsmanship (Tie with #21)

Name: Ed Jones
From: Cincinnati, OH
Instrument: Schiefspiegler-AltAz
Entry: [34] Mechanical
1st Place Mech Design (Tie with #35)
3rd Place Craftsmanship (Tie with #21)

Entry 35 Ed Jones of Cincinnati, OH: Jones-Medial
1st Place Mech Design (Tie with #34); 1st Place Craftsmanship; 2nd Place Innovative Component Award

Name: Ed Jones
From: Cincinnati, OH
Instrument: Jones-Medial
Entry: [35] Mechanical
1st Place Mech Design (Tie with #34)
1st Place Craftsmanship
2nd Place Innovative Component Award

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

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