2024 Stellafane Convention
The 88th Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers on Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont,
the 2024 Stellafane Convention was held on Thursday-Sunday, August 1st through 4th.
This year’s convention is dedicated to
All Those Who Do Astronomy Outreach
Bringing Astronomy to the Next Generation
Suggestions
Do you have a suggestion to improve any aspect of convention? We would like to hear about it! Please send them via email .
We are interested in feedback, comments or suggestions on any aspect of convention, we are always working to make improvements every year.
Thanks to All!
The Springfield Telescope Makers would like to thank all those who attended the 2024 Stellafane Convention and made it a success, especially all the volunteers and club members who help with setup, program and operations and cleanup, and all the excellent speakers who make their expertise and experience available through their talks and workshops.
To those of you who brought homemade telescopes to display on breezy hill, a special thank you for sharing your accomplishments and inspiring the next generation of telescope makers - we had a some very interesting and innovative scopes this year.
Convention Summary
This was another special convention, as the Springfield Telescope Makers celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Stellafane Clubhouse. We had a special Clubhouse 'treasure hunt' event, and participants who visited nine stations from the Flanders Pavilion up to the Clubhouse received a clubhouse commemorative sticker. With this convention, we stopped printing paper bulletins and provided all the information that it contained online for download to attendees mobile devices.
Rain was a factor during convention this year. Only Thursday evening had observing, and not of the best quality. Optical judging was not held this year. Mechanical judging was held on Saturday morning, with smaller scopes under a tent and a few larger scopes out in the field for a total of 20 entries. The Saturday evening program was held in the Flanders pavilion.
Emcee Mario Motta introduced our own Dr. Kristine Larsen to give her Stellafane Shadowgram talk "Stellafane Convention 100 years from now", a light-hearted look and convention and the people who put it on. Following that, Tony Hull, our keynote speaker, delivered an excellent keynote talk that described his career from rooftop stargazing when he was young, to coming to Stellafane, and ending with his work to lead the team that polished the JWST mirrors.
Saturnday
Al Nagler made a short presenation about his Saturnday movement.
Read Al Nagler's Saturnday document
Convention Program & Schedule
A great selection of speakers, workshops, demonstrations and events for every level: children, beginners, intermediate and
advanced amateur astronomers. Lists all scheduled events and times at convention.
View the Program & Schedule
View Program Download Info
Hartness House Workshop
The Hartness House Workshop will be held on Thursday, August 1st. The theme of the event this year will be: "Eclectic Astronomy III", meaning the Workshop will offer a broad spectrum of interesting individual talks. The slate for the day will be a heterogeneous collection of high-quality presentations, on a variety of astronomical subjects, with the usual opportunity to mingle with the speakers and other attendees at the historic Hartness House Inn. As usual, the Hartness/Porter Museum of Amateur Telescope Making will be open during the day.
The dinner session keynote address will be "Beauty and Discovery with Webb" by Tony Hull, University of New Mexico, who supervised the
polishing of the James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors, will talk about the images that Webb has been bringing to the world since its commissioning.
View the Hartness House Workshop Program (PDF)
Raffle Donors
The Springfield Telescope Makers would like to thank the following people and/or companies for donating prizes to the raffle at the 2024 Stellafane Convention. We thank:
Special thanks to Tele Vue for donating
many sets of their Premium Eyepieces.
Four sets of eyepieces were raffled off with a total value over $10,000!
Photo Gallery
Being prepared
Videos
Being prepared
[Click to enlarge]
Telescope Competition
All the enteries with photos, and winners from the 2024 Telescope Competition.
See the Scopes
Observing Olympics
A challenge to observe at least 15 deep sky objects, accessible in small to large amateur telescopes or binoculars. Try your observing skills and earn a pin for your efforts.
This year's Observing Olympics has fun new lists of objects to search for and learn about.
See the Observing Olympics Details
Teen Robotics Program
Stellafane Europa Clipper Project
For Teens age 12 to 17; Friday 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Stellafane Teen program participants will learn about the mission and technology behind NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, scheduled to launch on October 10, 2024 and expected to arrive in orbit around Europa in 2030, ready to explore Saturn’s orbiting ocean world. Europa Clipper’s primary science goal is to remotely explore below the icy surface shell and observe the ocean beneath, which could support life. This detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astro-biological potential of habitable worlds beyond our planet.
This will be a hands-on class where teens will work in teams to construct Europa Clipper inspired technology that will be demonstrated at the Convention. Attendance will be first-come first-served. If you are 100% sure your teen will attend convention and want to attend this event, then you’ll need to get them on the list. Special note: There will be a lot of specialized instruction so you will need to be on time! We will be working with hand tools, so please no open toed shoes (sandals, flip-flops, etc.)
Sun, Moon & Twilight Data View
When is Astronomical Twilight during convention? When does the sun set and the moon rise? Click to find out.
General Information
This page contains information about the convention that does not fit in elsewhere. Check this page for answers to any questions you may have.
Goto the General Information Page
at the 2023 Convention
Photo by Time Roske
[Click to enlarge]
Convention Policies
This page contains convention policies which we have established to insure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of convention by all who
attend. In particular, please read the Refund Policy and the Stellafane Convention Code of Conduct.
Please familiarize yourself with these policies, so that you too will have a safe and enjoyable convention.
View Convention Policies
Lodging & Campgrounds
If you are not camping at Stellafane, you will need some place to stay. Here is a listing of Motels, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Campgrounds in the area.
View our Lodging & Campground list
Directions & Maps
Need to know how to get to Stellafane? Here are written directions and a map for after you get off the Interstate.
We also have a site map of the convention area. See also Local Airport Information.
View Directions & Maps
Food Service
We are using the same vendor as the past few years: JC’s Market & Deli of North Springfield.
A dinner menu from the grill will be available starting Thursday late afternoon / early evening along with salads, fruit and snack items. Breakfast (from 6 AM), lunch, and dinner (from 5 PM) will be available Friday and Saturday and Breakfast will be available on Sunday morning.
Both Thursday, Friday & Saturday night home-cooked dinner options will also be offered al-la-carte at the cook shack:
NEW THIS YEAR: Dinner @ the Shack: Available for lunch or dinner each day: Choice of steak, chicken or pork with potatoes & veggies.
In addition to the a-la-carte selections available at the times above, an optional pre-ordered complete dinner will be available Saturday evening starting at 4:30 which must be ordered in advance with your registration. There is a choice of Half Chicken or Half-Rack of BBQ Ribs, and both meals include baked potato with toppings, corn, dinner roll, a drink (water or soda), and strawberry shortcake for $26.99
Bags of Ice will also be available for your cooler.