Here are photos of the 2010 Convention taken by the Springfield
Telescope Makers. On Page 2 of the Gallery, you will
find photos taken by Convention Attendees.
So whether you attended and want to try to find
yourself in photo, or you couldn't attend and want to see what went on, you can spend some
time browsing our gallery of general photos.
Note: After you expand a photo, use the arrow keys to move
forward or backward, or space bar to start a slide show.
Trees: We took down a couple of dangerous trees in the swap
area. One had a very difficult triple trunk, which took some extra work to drop
safely. Good logs were saved for a sawmill. |
John Martin sharpens his saw John Martin |
Sawing the first of three trunks |
Timber! The first trunk goes down Timber! |
Cleanup crew moves in to haul branches away |
Jay Drew gets the tractor into position Jay Drew |
John Martin hauls a saw log away |
This dead trunk was safer to push over with the Kubota Push it Over |
The crew watches John Martin drop the last trunk |
The last trunk goes down Timber! |
Tractor on left rolls logs ontto the forks of the tractor on the right Loading Logs |
Hauling logs away |
Jeff Lowe rolls a scrap log into the woods Jeff Lowe |
Ice Cream: Wednesday evening after dinner the "Stellafane evening after dinner the "Stellafane Crankers" got together at Jim & Marty Erickson's campsite. There was a very good
"turn" out and everyone enjoyed the fruit of their labor. Cranky Attendees were: Walt
& Linda Wheeler,
Amy, Jim, Rowan, Aidan and Declan Flood, Logan & Paul Forbes, Dick Parker, Mario & Helen Antonucci, Steve
&
Patrick Dodson, and Tony Costanzo. Cranking ice cream is almost as good as pushing
glass (maybe better on a warm summer evening!) |
Walt & Linda Wheeler Walt & Linda Wheeler |
Aidan Flood Aidan Flood |
Logan Forbes Logan Forbes |
Jim & Declan Flood Jim & Declan Flood |
Patrick Dodson Patrick Dodson |
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Dick Parker Dick Parker |
Tony Costanzo Tony Costanzo |
Paul Forbes Paul Forbes |
Mario Antonucci Mario Antonucci |
Painting: We do a lot of painting at
pre-convention: signs, M44, the Bunkhouse and the Sundial this year. |
The old paint is being scraped off Scraped Down |
The sundial was last repainted in 1994 Last done 1994 |
Michael Costanzo does the last bit of scraping Michael Costanzo |
VP Gary Cislak paints the white background Gary Cislak |
Rick Hunter works on the edges Rick Hunter |
The gnomon was refurbished by Dave Prowten New Gnomon |
Gary Cislak's dog Picasso - he's a painter, right? Picasso |
Dennis Woos, Jay Drew & Dave Siegrist scrape down M44
Dennis Woos, Jay Drew & Dave Siegrist |
M44 Painted M44 Painted |
Eileen Myers paints trim on the bunkhouse Eileen Myers |
Walt Wheeler paints signs at the bunkhouse Walt Wheeler |
Signs lined up, ready to be put up Signs |
Miscellaneous: Other photos from Pre-Convention |
John Martin digs out muddy soil Removing Mud |
For a good surface unter the tent, John spreads surepack. Adding Surepack |
The new grinding tent, to keep noise down for the speakers in the Pavilion
Grinding Tent |
One throusand chairs, delivered, and ready to be set up 1,000 Chairs |
Dave Proten works on a new stairway in the bunkhouse Dave Prowten |
Dave Siegrist does demolition for a new bunkhouse stairway Dave Siegrist |
Ray Morits prepares a paver mold Ray Morits |
Ray Morits & Jim Erickson work on paver molds Ray Morits & Jim Erickson |
Engraved pavers being cured in water Curing Pavers |
Greg Dolise prepares the surface for pavers Greg Dolise |
Meredith Muller & Walt Wheeler install pavers
Meredith Muller & Walt Wheeeler |
Some younger volunteers find the paver sand supply can be a lot of fun!
Paver Sandbox |
Ray Morits routes out a disk for his telescope Ray Morits |
Ray Morits assembles his telescope Ray Morits |
Al Tinker Al Tinker |
What's this - a new member Tee-Shirt??? New Tee Shirt? |
Dave Kelly prepares for some ladder work in the pavilion Dave Kelly |
Liz Sharpe, Wayne Zuhl & Paul Sharpe prepare "Waynebo Stew"
for Wednesday dinner. Dinner Prep |
John Vogt & Tom Spirock help Dennis & Kim Cassia staff
the pre-convention gate Gate Duty |
Chef Mario Antonucci makes coffe for breakfast. Make the Coffee! |
Gerry Logan, Tony Constanzo, Jim Erickson & Don Schwartzkopf
work on cooking steaks for Thursday night's dinner. Cook the Steaks |
Julie Tabor & Gabe DeLuca chat in the pavilion.
Julie Tabor & Gabe DeLuca |
Eillen Myers, Steve & Patrick Dodson and Linda & Walt Wheeler
socialize in the pavilion. Friends |
Secretary Dave Tabor has fallen into a black hole! Dave Tabor |
At the Gate members register and welcome
conventioneers. |
This banner welcomes people to the Convention Welcome! |
Tom spirock & Al Monkowski take the first shift of "gate duty" on
Friday morning. Tom Spirock & Al Monkowski |
Perry Remaklus seems shocked at some situation while checking in;
wife pat seems to be quite amused by it Pat & Perry Remaklus |
Iliana Filby arrives to set up judging checkin Iliana Filby |
Daper Jay Drew, who wears a tie as a throwback to the "Russel Porter
days" get dropped off at the gate by his family. Jay Drew |
This classic sign points the way to convention. This Way! |
On Breezy Hill we have the telescope
competition, the Stellafane Clubhouse and the Porter Turret Telescope. |
Walking up the road on a perfect day, we catch sight of Conventioneers and
Telescopes spread out arround the Porter Turret Telescope. Breezy Hill 2010 |
For the 75th Convention, members put their telescopes in a special area
behind the clubhouse Member's Scopes |
Bert Williard's Bowling Bowl Scope. The year after it was shown at Stellafane,
the Emund Astroscan scope appeared. Willard's Ball |
Bruce bedford helps Dick Parker set up his 16" Cassegrain.
Dick Parker |
Stellafane Dob |
Jeff Parenteau's Telescopes Jeff Parenteau |
The Porter Turret Telescope Tour drew a huge crowd. Led by past presenidents
John Gallagher & Brad Vietje. Turret Tour |
Matt Considine runs the Porter Turrent and shows Conventioneers a sunspot.
Matt Considine Sunspots! |
The special, small aperature solar projection flat installed on the
Porter Turret Telescope. Porter Turret Solar Flat |
Bill's Schupmann Bill's Schupmann |
John Briggs & Norm Fredrick examine a brass refractor.
John Briggs & Norm Fredrick |
The Judging Support Team (Optical Runner Bruce Bedford, Judging Registration
Iliana Filby & Joyce Sinnot) under the Judging Tent. The J-Team |
Dennis Cassia emerges from the clubhouse. Dennis Cassia |
Erin Lowe on Breezy Hill. Erin Lowe |
Vice President gary Cislak. VP Gary Cislak |
Webmaster Ken & Suellen Slater on the field taking pictures of
all the telescopes for this page. Webmaster Ken & Suellen Slater |
Liz Sharpe is interviewed for SevenDays.
See Video Liz Sharpe |
Mike Heliba Mike Heliba |
"Earth Rocks similar to those found on the Moon" on display
on the clubhouse wall "Moon Rocks" |
Conventioneers enjoy the view to the west. Okemo Ski Area in Ludow
on the right. Enjoy the View! |
Conventioneers chat surrouded by telescopes. Matt Considine at left.
Conventioneers |
Nice Shirt! (Our 75th Convention Tee-Shirt) Nice Shirt! |
John Bortle made his own special Tee-Shirt, commemorating his
47th Convention. John Bortle #47 |
Convention in full swing on Breezy Hill Breezy Hill |
Jim Daley & Gerry Logan Jim Daley & Gerry Logan |
Oldest Conventioneer Andrew Simoni with John Martin. Andrew's granddaughter
Stephanie has her back to the camera and is using a video camera.
Andrew Simoni & John Martin |
After a long day of walking around at convention, a conventioneer
rests his tired feet. Tired Feet after a long day. |
The Stellafane Clubhouse unders a starry sky.
Clubhouse under the stars |
A Persied Meteor streaks over the Porter Turret Telescope.
Persied over Porter Turret |
The Milky Way over the Stellafane Clubhouse.
Milky Way over the clubhouse |
The McGregor Observatory & Main Observing
Field |
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Kris Larsen running the Children's Program Children's Program |
Children busy at work in the Children's Program Children's Program |
Coloring Planets in the Children's program. Children's Program |
Members Jay Drew, Treasurer Wayne Hilliard and Dave Siegrist on the bench
in front of the McGregor Observatory. McGregor Bench |
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This power pack was recharing during the day in front of the
McGregor Observatory. Charging |
Looking north at the lower parking and observing field. Lower Field |
Al & Judy nagler in 'their spot' on the Main Observing Field
Al & Judy Nagler |
Climbing up hill to the McGregor Observaotry. Member Jim Flood with two of
his children walk up behind another Conventioneer. Up Hill |
Two Conventioneers rest in the shade on the edge of the Main Observering
Field. Shade |
Scopes in the Mian Observing Field wait for dark. The McGregor Observatory
is on the north, high side of this field. Waiting for Dark |
Covered Telescopes on the Main Observering Field wait for darkness to fall.
Covered scopes wait for dark |
Dave Siegrist in the lower field. Dave Siegrist |
The New Hampshire Astronnomical Society shade structure. The
Bunkhouse and Food Tents are at the bottom of this hill. NH Astronomical Society |
The Kopernik Astro Society shade structure, and some nearby scopes.
Kopernik Astro Society |
Scopes set up between NHAS and Kopernik AS areas. Society Scopes |
Roger Williams with his telescope. Roger Williams |
Al Takeda sets up for his 'Asto-Imaging with a DSLR' workshop.
Al Takeda |
Al Monkowski & Carl Malikowski in the McGregor Observatory,
hosting visitors when they come inside. McGregor Observatory |
The 13" Schupmann telescope in its stowed postion. The main observing field
is (overexposed and) visible through the roof opening. 13" Schupmann is stowed |
The 13" Schupmann telescope is pointed to the south with the Milky Way
arcing down toward it from the sky. Conventioneers wait in line for a view thorugh this instrument in the
McGregor Observatory. 13" Schupmann looks up |
Looking south at the Milky Way from behind the pier in the McGregor
Observatory Looking South at the Milky Way |
Conventioneers line up in the McGregor Observatory for a view through the
13" Schupmann. Lining Up for a View |
Bunkhouse: Find T-Shirts, Raffle Tickets,
Info and First Aid here. Food Tent: Sit down for a meal or grab a
quick snack. |
T-shirts ready to sell, but at this moment conventioneers are all
lined up at the raffle sales area. The Bunkhouse |
Four bags of Tele Vue Eyepieces to be raffled off, generously donated by Al Nagler,
hang above the T-Shirt sales area. Bags of Naglers! |
Walt Wheeler, a young assistent, and Eillen Myers staff the T-Shirt
sales area. T-Shirt Sales |
Raffle Ticket Sales are done from the porch. Raffle Sales |
The Food Tent at breakfast on Sunday morning. Food Tent |
Our long-time food vendeor, Luey Clough, works in the
food tent. Luey Clough |
The Flanders Pavilion hosts the ATM Demos,
Friday Night Talks, ATM Short Talks & Tech Talks. |
Merideth Muller grinds at left while Junie Esslinger talks to the
crowd about mirro grinding. ATM Demo |
Junie Esslinger holds a tile tool while describing mirror grinding.
ATM Demo |
A conventioneer tries his hand at mirror grinding. ATM Demo |
Phile Rounseville decribes polishing and figuring to some
interested attendees. ATM Demo |
This poster in the pavilion identified all the club members who are
amatuer radio operators. Our convention repeater is W1STM on 145.270 MHz. HAMS - W1STM |
Site network manager Carl Malikowski troubleshoots problems in the
'Tower of Babel' Wi-Fi relay station. Carl Malikowski |
Vehicles: There are some interesting ones
around the site |
The shuttle bus bringing conventioneers up to the clubhouse from
Stellafane East. Shuttle Bus |
Mark Stockon, our security contractor, patrolling convention on his ATV
Security ATV |
The Stellafane Golf Cart, used by site manager John Martin STM Golf Cart |
Our old red pickup truck witht the work scaffold in back turned green this year
Platform Truck |
License Plate: Scope Maker Scope Maker |
License Plate: Don't Panic Don't Panic |
License Plate: Star Gazer Star Gazer |
License Plate: Cydonia Cydonia |
License Plate: Cygnus Cygnus |
Is this wheel cover also a star chart? Star Chart? |
License Plate: IV-503 IV-503 |
License Plate: Clear Sky Clear Sky |
Around the Site: Photos from the far corners
of Stellafane! |
The Swap Tables are busy on Saturday morning. Swap Tables |
Another view of the Swap Tables. Swap Tables |
Judy & Al Nagler visit Dennis & Kim Cassia at their campsite.
Nagler & Cassia |
This is Scotty Houston's camper. Scotty was our beloved and long-time
Shadowgram speaker. Scotty's Camper |
A blue Alvin Clark reflector lies in front of member John Briggs' campsite.
Built in 1903 for Harvard College observatory, it is a 24" f/5.5 Newtonian figured by Carl A. R. Lundin.
STM's' Clark |
Jay Drew with daughter Ariel in the food tent. Jay & Ariel Drew |
This campsite is just east (and down a slope) from the McGregor Observatory.
Our ancient digger which we use to remove stumps, sits on to the side. McGregor Camp |
The Aldrich Astronomical Society campsite. Aldrich Camp |
Isn't this a cute little camper! Cute! |
Mario Antonucci relaxes at his camp in Mario's Hollow Mario's Hollow |
Campers near Houston Hollow - the Sky & Telescope shade structure
is at the right rear. Houston Hollow |
Campers scattered about Pine Island. Pine Island |
The Saturday Evening Program held in the
Amphitheater under beautiful skies. |
Tom Spirock organzing the raffle prizes. Tom Spirock |
Wayne Zuhl prepares to videotape the evening program. Wayne Zuhl |
Down front, sitting with the STMs, are Sam Storch, John Bortle and Joe Rao.
Storch & Bortle |
Steve & Diane Simoni arrive at the evening program.
Mr. & Mrs. Simoni |
Andrew E. Simoni, oldest conventioneer for several years running, with his
granddaughter Stephanie at left. Andrew Simoni |
Stephanie Simoni & site manager John Martin above the projection screen to
videotape some crowd shots. Above the Crowd |
Al Rifkin prepares to take the crowd panorama (next photo). Al Rifkin |
A panoramic photo of the convetioneers attending the Staurday Evening Program
from above the projection screen just as the program was starting.
Amphitheater Panorama (3218 × 1024, 1.35MB) |
Conventioneers gather in the amphitheater. Conventioneers |
Children come down front to get a free raffle ticket for the Children's Raffle.
Kids Raffle |
Maryann Arrien presents Sam Storch with a NERAL Special Service Award.
Sam Storch & Maryann Arrien |
NERAL Special Service Award for Sam Storch. Sam Storch's NERAL Award |
Maryann Arrien presents John Bortle with the 2010 NERAL Walter Scott
Houston Award. John Bortle & Maryann Arrien |
NERAL Walter Scott Houston award for John Bortle.
John Bortle's WSH Award |
The Oldest (Andrew Simoni) & Youngest (Ronan Caffrey, grandson of Robert K. Morse, STM, with Mom Erica Morse at age 10 months.)
at Convention this year. Oldest & Youngest Stellafaners |
Winning raffle ticket numbers are called out by Master Of
Ceremonies Bob Morse.
MC Bob Morse calls the Raffle |
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Winners of the Optical & Mechancial Judging line up prior to the
announcement of the awards. Telescope Winners |
Past President John Gallagher gave the Shadowgram talk.
Shadowgram by John Gallagher |
The keynote talk for our 75th Convnetion was delivered by Dr. Connie Rockosi, UC
Santa Cruz/Lick Observatory, who helped develop the telescope and instruments for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
She is also a member for the Springfield Telescope Makers. Keynote by Dr. Connie Rockosi |
The keynote talk for our 75th Convnetion was delivered by Dr. Connie Rockosi, UC
Santa Cruz/Lick Observatory, who helped develop the telescope and instruments for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
She is also a member for the Springfield Telescope Makers. Keynote by Dr. Connie Rockosi |
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Sunday morning Cleanup |
Erin Lowe & VP Gary Cislak sell shirts & hats as conventioneers
head out and head home. Last Chance! |
Keynote speaker Connie Rockosi was the first in memory to work on convnetion
cleanup - she may be a professional astronomer, but she is a Springfield Telescope maker at heart!
Destringing |
President Jeff Lowe, Walt Wheeler, Junie Eslinger & Ray Morits wait
for the church service to be over in the pavilion to begin cleanup. Waiting |
Members Patrick Dodson, Jim Beaty, Al Monkowsli and Steve Dodson stack rented
chairs in the pavilion Stacking Chairs |
Junie Esslinger, John Martin, Dave Tabor & Jonathn Morse clean up and load
up in the pavilion. Loading & Moving |
When convention is over, the "Fruit Stand" gets put away until next year.
Goodbye! |