[2008-Dec-14]
The Stellafane Donation Scope was
sold on eBay for $6,700 to a buyer in Los Angles. Congratulations to the buyer on having the winning bid
for this superb telescope. Stellafane thanks all the vendors who contributed components to the scope to
make this possible (listed below in the announcement article).
Stellafane Donation Scope on eBay
[2008-Dec-06]
The Stellafane Donation Scope (SDS), a 12/5" f/4.8 state-of-the-art, fully outfitted truss-tube Dobsonian, is now
being auctioned on eBay (Item Number
260328267262). The SDS was conceived by Rob Teeter of
Teeter's Telescopes and
sponsored by Astronomy Technology Today magazine, with many vendors contributing components to the
scope. Take a look at the auction, you may want to be on this special edition telescope. The auction
ends Saturday, December 13, 2008 at approximately 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
SDS Poster
Stellafane is grateful to the following vendors who supported this project:
Stellafane elects new President, Vice President and Secretary
[2008-Nov-22] At it's annual November business
meeting, the Springfield Telescope makers elevated former vice-president Jeff Lowe to the office of
President. With this vote, John Gallagher will continue on the board as Immediate Past President. New
officers include Cary Cislak, Vice President and Dave Tabor, Secretary. Re-elected board members include
Melinda Callis, Treasurer, Dave Prowten, Trustee and Ken Slater, Trustee. Wayne Zuhl leaves the board
after 10 years as secretary. Images off all officers and trustees can be see on the
Stellafane About page.
[2008-Nov-22] The Springfield Telescope Makers have set the dates for Stellafane Conventions in 2009,
2010 and 2011 at their annual November business meeting. In addition, they set club meeting dates for
2009. See the main Stellafane Convention page for future
convention dates and the Events Calendar (below) for the 2009 meeting dates.
Debbie & Rick Wed at Stellafane
[2008-Oct-25] Rick & Debbie became Mr. & Mrs. Jones at an afternoon
wedding on October 25 at the Stellafane clubhouse. The ceremony was out front and the reception was held
inside. The Jones' and their children have been attending mirror class this year. Below are a few photos
of the event taken by STM member Dave McGaw. Stellafane congratulates the happy couple and wishes them
all the best in the future.
Melinda Callis wins Prudential Cares Award for Stellafane
Melinda Callis
[2008-Oct-24] Melinda Callis has been an avid
stargazer for decades. And for the
last four years, Callis, a director
of accounting for Individual Life
Insurance at Prudential, has found the perfect way
to combine her love of astronomy with
her expertise in accounting.
Since November 2003, she has served
as treasurer of the Springfield
Telescope Makers in Vermont, an
amateur telescope-making club. But
she and her husband have been members
of the club since 1989, and every
month they make the trip from New
Jersey to Vermont for meetings and
events, and to do volunteer work
above and beyond her duties as
treasurer. "We drive up regularly to
lend a hand with the general upkeep
of the facility—the Stellafane
Observatory National Historic
Landmark—and we even helped build one
of its observatories," Callis says.
"Our members are a very motivated
group of people with a deep interest
in astronomy and a healthy respect
for the history of the club."
They're also sought after by some of the best minds in the business. "My
favorite story is when the Hubble Space Telescope was found to have flawed
optics, NASA called us asking if they could send a speaker to our club's
annual convention to discuss the root cause of the error and how they
planned to fix it," Callis explains. "Our convention draws people from all
over the world, and NASA recognized that we were the kind of audience they
needed to engage."
The $250 Prudential CARES Volunteer Grant Callis earned is already slated
to help support the club's next convention and, as she puts it, "extend the
astronomical experience."
The Date of the 2009 Stellafane Convention has Changed
[2008-Oct-06] The 2009 Stellafane Convention has
been moved one week earlier to begin Thursday, August 13 through Sunday, August 16. It had previously
been set begin on August 20. The letter below from our president explains the reason for this change:
Dear Friends of Stellafane,
The 2009 Annual Stellafane Convention will be held on Breezy Hill from August 13-16. Because this
represents a departure from our usual pattern, an explanation is in order. The July Solar Eclipse will
be well attended, forcing many to make a difficult choice. We want to make it possible for our friends
to attend both events! Other dates in July were inauspicious. The next new moon on August 20th conflicts
with early school openings and the weather often turns brisk. More importantly, it coincides with
Agricultural Fairs so food vendors are unavailable. The Springfield Telescope Makers recognize that the
rising of the waning crescent will impact deep sky observing after midnight. We hope that our loyal
Stellafane attendees will understand the unusual circumstances that have forced this compromise.
Sincerely,
John Gallagher
President, Springfield Telescope Makers
Star Party was a Success!
[2008-Sep-23] The Stellafane Open House and Up All
Night Star Party was blessed with two nights of good weather and we had a strong turnout on both nights.
Besides having the Porter Turret Telescope and McGregor Observatory operating, many members brought their
own telescopes so visitors had a good selection of instruments to look through. While many objects were
viewed, Jupiter was well positioned and proved to be a favorite with many guests who had not seen a planet
through telescope before. Thanks to all the many members who organized and helped out with this fine event.
Star Party Flier
Up All Night Star Party Saturday September 19 & 20
[2008-Aug-17] Stellafane will be holding a public
Open House and "Up All Night" Star Party (viewing through telescopes) on September 19 & 20 from 7:00 PM
on into the night. Admission is free. If you have ever wanted to look at stars, planets, nebula and galaxies
through a telescope, please join us on Breezy Hill for as long or short a time as you would like.
In the event of inclement weather occurs on the evening of the event, we will have a message on (603)863-3975
of a Go/No Go. We hope to see everyone on on September 19th or 20th.
[2008-Sep-09] The flier for this star party is now available online; click
the image at right to see a large version.
Mike Mattei wins Walter Scott Houston Award
Mike Mattei
[2008-Jul-03] It is my great pleasure to announce
that, by unanimous vote of the NERAL Executive Committee, this year's Walter Scott Houston Award of the
North East Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) is being awarded to Mike Mattei of Littleton, MA at
this year's Stellafane Convention in Springfield, Vermont on Saturday evening, August 2, 2008.
Mike Mattei has been an active observer for many decades and a member of ALPO and AAVSO. He worked at Harvard
Observatory's Agassiz Station (now Oak Ridge Obs.), and met his future wife (Dr. Janet Akyuz Mattei 1943
-2004) at AAVSO. He became very active in optics and amateur telescope making, and later went professional,
specializing in the fabrication of aspherical optics at Space Optics Research Labs, and Optical Systems
and Technology Inc (O.S.T.I.). There he worked on optics for space exploration such as an Ultraviolet Telescope
for Goddard Space Flight Center. Eventually Mike was asked to join the staff at Lincoln Labs to work on
special Government 'Star Wars' projects using Laser Imaging Optical Radar Systems. He also worked at MIT's
Wallace Astrophysical Observatory. He taught courses at University of Hawaii and spoke at local club events
Mike is possibly best known for his hundreds of nights teaching beginners the art and craft of mirror making
at the ATMoB workshop in Westford, Massachusetts. He still works full time at Lincoln Labs, and continues
to spend his nights searching for Novae for the AAVSO in his home-built observatory.
We are very pleased to give this award to this innovative, self-educated man who took the time to pass on
his knowledge to so many amateurs, while he worked alongside many professionals and researchers in astronomy.
Congratulations, Mike!
Very sincerely,
Maryann Arrien, Chair: NERAL
The North East Region of the Astronomical League
845-528-7420 www.neral.org (recently updated!)
NERAL Regional Representative Paul Valleli
NERAL Vice Chairman: Jack Heinzmann
NERAL Secretary Alan Rifkin
NERAL Treasurer: Richard Roberts
Joseph LaVigne memorial service at Stellafane Family & Friends honor
Joseph LaVigne at Stellafane
[2008-May-29] On Sunday May 25, 2008, the Springfield
Telescope Makers hosted a memorial service for amateur telescope maker Joseph LaVigne, who passed away unexpectedly
at the age of 44. Before family and friends, Joe’s request was honored as his ashes were spread on Stellafane’s
Observing Field. As a teen and young adult, Joe was a regular attendee at the Annual Convention and displayed
his homemade reflector. He moved to Montana where he pursued astrophotography from his Weasel Creek Observatory.
He authored the chapter “Imaging the Moon with an Astro-Video Camera” in Peter Wlasuk’s “Observing the Moon,
A Practical Guide”, one of Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series.
Stellafane Convention in Smithsonian Magazine
[2008-May-15] The Stellafane Convention gets national
exposure in the the June 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine. In the regular short feature section
"Points of Interest: Notable American Destinations and Happenings" the convention gets a quarter page write-up
and is accompanied by a panoramic photo of the clubhouse area taken by long-time Stellafaner Phil Harrington.
Check out our coverage on page 25.
2008 Convention Registration is now Open
[2008-May-15] The 2008 Stellafane Convention, to be
held July 31 to Aug 3 this year, is drawing ever closer. You can now browse program information and register
online for this years convention. See the 2008 Stellafane Convention
Page.
Pavilion Fund now Accepting Monthly Donations
The Pavilion in use at the 2006 Convention.
[2008-Mar-11]
The Springfield Telescope Makers are announcing a renewed fundraising drive for
the Flanders Pavilion. Three years ago, the club took a big risk to take out a mortgage to get the construction
of this important new convention facility underway. Clearly the pavilion has been great success, providing
dry open space for convention activities that can be easily darkened for daytime presentations for the last
two years.
We currently have an $80,000 mortgage on the building, and to date have raised $15,000 in funds to pay it
off, so we have a long way to go. We are certainly happy to accept donations of any size or amount, every
dollar helps. We are now offering a monthly payment option - consider giving $10 per month to help cover
the cost of this great new building. If 120 people gave $10 a month for 5 years, we would be able to pay
of the mortgage. Many club members have already signed up for this option, please consider it yourself (some
didn't want to have to deal with a monthly payment, so they made the equivalent one time payment of $120).
Please see the main Flanders Pavilion fundraising page for more information
about larger donations or pavers ($25 each with a plaque in the pavilion) or the new
Monthly Fundraising section for details about this new way to give.
Thank you very much for your support of the Flanders Pavilion and the Stellafane Convention.
