2006 Stellafane 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 12.5" and under; Large Newtonian over 12.5"; 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.

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: Melinda Callis, Jay Drew, Ken Slater & Perry Remaklus.

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				Name: Wayne Zuhl From: Livingston, NJ Instrument: 8" f/5 Newt/Dob Entered: [01] Optical
				Name: Jeremy D. Schmit From: Watertown, MA Instrument: 10" f/5.4 Newt/Dob with circular spider and modified finder. Entered: [02] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 3rd Place Optical Small Newt.
				Name: James F. Popolucha From: Milford, CT Instrument: 6" f/15 Refractor with 6" hand-ground acromat. Entered: [03] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 2nd Place Optical Compound, 3rd Place Mechanical Design, 3rd Place Craftsmanship (tie)
	See also Entry 25			Name: Daniel Octeau From: Montreal, Quebec, CA Instrument: 18.25" f/5 Newt/Dob with home made focuser. Entered: [04] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 3rd Place Craftsmanship (tie)
				Name: Art Bianconi From: Milford, NJ Instrument: 6: f/32 Schiefspeigler on GEM with fiberglass over foam cores. Entered: [05] Optical & Mechanical
				Name: Tony Wallace From: Hamilton, Ontario, CA Instrument: 10" f/5.9 Newt/Dob with home made heaters and controller. Entered: [06] Optical
				Name: Doug Zubenel & Mike Larkin From: DeSoto, KS & Blue Springs, MO Instrument: 12.5" f/10 Newt/GEM with tangent drive and home made mirror. Entered: [07] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 2nd Place Optical Large Newt.
				Name: Doug Zubenel From: DeSoto, KS Instrument: 6" f/5 Newtonian Binocular Entered: [08]  Mechanical
				Name: Doug Zubenel From: DeSoto, KS Instrument: 1.56x Finder with 25.6° field Entered: [09] Mechanical
				Name: Mike D. Larkin From: Blue Springs, MO Instrument: 8" f/6 Newt/Pipe Mount with "Larkin Legs". Entered: [10] Mechanical
				Name: Brian A. Leacu From: Newton Centre, MA Instrument: 8" f/6.53 Newt/Dob Entered: [11] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 1st Place Optical Small Newt.
				Name: Joe P. Manning From: Bel Air, MD Instrument: 12.5" f/4.5 Newt/Dob Entered: [12] Optical Awards: 1st Place Optical Large Newt.
				Name: David M. Groski From: Hockessin, DE Instrument: 6" f/4 Newt/GEM with pipe fittings. Entered: [13] Optical & Mechanical Awards: Innovative Component (Swage-Lock Bearing)
				Name: William Cheng From: Mt. Jackson, VA Instrument: 6" f/10 Newt/Dob  with equatorial platform. Entered: [14] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 2nd Place Optical Small Newt.
				Name: Colin Cassie & Peter L. Kalajian From: Whitefield, ME & Camden, ME Instrument: 8" f/7 Newt with flex mirror and bowling ball mount. Entered: [15] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 1st Place Special Award
				Name: Gary E. Frishkorn From: Dayton, MD Instrument: 6" f/5 Binocular/Chair with curved spiders and rearview reflex sight. Entered: [16] Optical & Mechanical Awards: 1st Place Optical Compound, 1st Place Mechanical Design, 1st Place Craftsmanship
				Name: Phil J. Cooper & Emily V. Cooper From: Oneonta, NY Instrument: 16" f/5 Newt/Dob with finder, electric and rings. Entered: [17] Mechanical
				Name: David Clark & Bruce Justusson From: New Paltz, NY Instrument: 17.5 f/5 Newt/Horseshoe with bicycle brake manual RA drive. Entered: [18] Mechanical
				Name: Donald D. Austin From: Big Spring, TX Instrument: 8" Newt/Dob with furniture grade plywood and stainless hardware. Entered: [19] Mechanical
				Name: Donald D. Austin From: Big Spring, TX Instrument: 16" Newt/Dob Entered: [20] Mechanical with furniture grade plywood and stainless hardware.
				Name: Ross D. Sackett From: Memphis, TN Instrument: 12.5 f/5 Newt/Dob with 3 point mount and variable iris focus baffle. Entered: [21] Mechanical Awards: 2nd Place mechanical Design, 2nd Place Craftsmanship
				Name: Sam C. Kay From: Shelburne, VT Instrument: 6" f/8 Newt/Dob finished day of competition. Entered: [22] Optical & Mechanical Awards: Junior Award
				Name: Dave G. Tabor From: Randolph Center, VT Instrument: 8" f/6.25 Newt/Dob with home made focuser Entered: [23] Mechanical
				Name: Francis J. Manasek From: Norwich, VT Instrument: 4.2" f/6.2 Newt/GEM with speculum mirror and unique brass focuser. Entered: [24] Mechanical Awards: Honorable Mention Mechanical Design, 2nd Place Special Award
	See also Entry 4			Name: Daniel Octeau From: Montreal, Quebec, CA Instrument: Observing Ladder with Mosquito Netting. Entered: [25] Mechanical Awards: 3rd Place Special Award

Newt = Newtonian Reflector; Dob = Dobsonian Mount; GEM = German Equatorial Mount.

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