2001 Stellafane News

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• New ATM Article posted: Guide to Strokes

  

  [2001-Oct-25] When grinding your mirror, you'll have to understand how to use the different grinding strokes and what each stroke motion is used for. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on the different grinding strokes and how to apply them to your particular situation.

• New ATM Article Posted:Make Sure Your Mirror has a Beveled Edge

  

  [2001-Oct-18] If you're just starting to grind a telescope mirror, one very important step not to forget is to bevel the edge of your mirror and glass tool! This will help prevent chipping the edges of the glass which can scratch your mirror. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to bevel your mirror and glass tool.

• Movies of all the Telescopes entered in the 2001 Competition now available

  [2001-Oct-15] Click here to view Windows media player movies of all of the telescopes entered in the 2001 telescope competition. Special thanks to Mitch Melassanos for shooting the video and preparing the movies!

• Public Star Party at Stellafane

  [2001-Oct-7] This fall's public star party at Stellafane has been scheduled for the nights of October 19th and 20th. Please bring your 'scope and/or binoculars and join us for an evening or two observing the night sky in the crisp, fall air. Please contact us if you have any questions and hope for clear skies!

• The 2001/02 Stellafane Mirror Class has been Scheduled

  [2001-Sep-27] The free Stellafane mirror making class for the 2001/02 season has been scheduled. Note that pre-registration is required so please click here for details.

• Very, Very Good News received regarding the Springfield Prison!

  [2001-Aug-24] The Southern State Correctional Facility was granted an ACT 250 Land Use Permit Wednesday morning, August 21. The permit requires the State to abide by the agreement diligently worked out between Stellafane and the Department of Buildings and Grounds of the State of Vermont. In short, we got everything we asked for, and our agreement with the State is now a condition of their permit.

• The 2001 Stellafane Convention is History

  [2001-Aug-21] The 2001 Stellafane convention is history. Clouds cut the observing and optical judging short but the rain held off to the relief of all. Otherwise, the convention was a success. Please click here for photos and reports.

• The 2001 Stellafane Convention Mailing is in the Mail!

  [2001-May-17] The mailing for the 2001 Stellafane convention is on the way! If you are on our mailing list you should be receiving your registration materials shortly. If you are not on our list but would like to register please click here.

• Fourth Astronomy Class at the Springfield Middle School taught by the Springfield Telescope Makers

  [2001-May-13] On May 4th, the fourth in a series of astronomy related classes was held at the Springfield, VT middle school. During this session, Iliana Filby illustrated using internet sites for doing research and checking up on various astronomy subjects. The middle school students subsequently worked in their computer lab and and put their new skills to the test.

• The 2001 Convention Bulletin and Site Map are Ready

  [2001-May-11] NOTE: Do not attempt to register until you receive the registration materials in the mail!!

• New ATM Article Posted - "Materials & Tools needed to Make a Mirror:

  [2001-Apr-10] If you're considering grinding your own mirror, and you should be, you'll need to know what materials and tools needed to get started. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to get started collecting the materials you'll need.

• Third Astronomy Class at the Springfield Middle School
  taught by the Springfield Telescope Makers

  [2001-Mar-30] On March 20, the third in a series of astronomy related classes was held at the Springfield, VT middle school. During this session, Junie Esslinger and Bead Vietje of the Springfield Telescope Makers taught the students how to grind their own telescope mirror. See below for photos of the students trying their hand at grinding and polishing telescope mirrors.

• New ATM Article Posted - "How to Make a Plaster Tool"

  [2001-Mar-1] If you're planning on grinding a mirror (which you should be) you either may not have a second glass mirror blank or may not want the extra expense of a second glass blank, especially if you're grinding a large mirror, to use as a tool. The solution is to make a plaster tool as a substitute. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to make a plaster tool.

• New ATM Article Poster - "How to Make a Tile Grinding Tool"

  [2001-Mar-1] After you make your tile tool, you'll need to attach tiles to the surface which will do the actual grinding. Tiles have the advantage of many more cutting edges than a plain glass blank which makes the grinding process go much faster. And, once you finish the mirror you can replace the tiles and use the tool again on your next mirror! Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to make a tile tool.

• New ATM Article Posted - "How to Make a Pitch Lap"

  [2001-Mar-1] Once you have finished the rough and fine grinding process, you'll have to polish your mirror to a very smooth surface and figure it's shape to focus the star-light correctly. For that you'll need a pitch-lap. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to pour a pitch-lap.

• New ATM Article Posted - "How to Maintain a Pitch Lap"

  [2001-Mar-9] Now that you have you pitch-lap ready to go, you will want to learn how to keep it in tip-top shape. Click here to read Ken Slater's, of the Springfield Telescope Makers, article on how to maintain your pitch-lap.

• The 2000 Convention Newsgram will be in the mail shortly

  [2001-Mar-1] Putting on the annual Stellafane Convention is a huge undertaking, that requires the help of many individuals. As I have discovered, so is putting out the Stellafane Newsgram. It was my intention to have the Newsgram ready to go to the printer by the middle of November, but, due to my work schedule and the schedules of others involved with the production of this publication, we were not able to meet our preset deadlines. It's the old situation where life gets in the way. As the editor, I apologize to all who have made a donation to receive the Newsgram. On a note for the future of the Newsgram, I intend to make an earlier deadline for the 2001 edition, hopefully getting the Newsgram into your mailboxes by late October or early November. I'm sure that with increased efforts we can achieve that goal. I look forward to your continued readership.

  Wayne Zuhl - Editor, Stellafane Convention Newsgram

• Second Astronomy Class at the Springfield Middle School

  [2001-Feb-27] On February 15, the second in a series of astronomy related classes was held at the Springfield, VT middle school. During this session, Junie Esslinger and Bead Vietje of the Springfield Telescope Makers taught the students basic optics and constructed simple telescopes so the students could get a feel for how telescopes work.

• Springfield Telescope Makers working with Local Students

  [2001-Feb-2] On January 30th, the first in a series of astronomy related classes was held at the Springfield, VT middle school. During the first session, Junie Esslinger and John Martin of the Springfield Telescope Makers familiarized the students with Stellafane history from the early days when Russell Porter began his first mirror making class in the local machine shops up to the current days of the conventions. Subjects that will be included in upcoming classes are basic optics, mirror making and astronomy with the web. More to follow!

• Suggestions for the 2001 Convention Bulletin

  [2001-Jan-24] The bulletin and registration materials for the 2001 Stellafane convention are in the works. If you have any suggestions about the information that is included in the convention mailing please let us know. Thanks!

  If you'd like to get information about this summer's Stellafane convention now go to the convention information page.

• Very Important Schedule Change for the Optical Judging during Convention!!!!!

  [2001-Apr-16] Please note: The optical judging during the Stellafane convention has been scheduled for the Friday night of the convention at 10pm! There will be no optical judging Saturday night unless Friday is completely clouded out or early clouds force a suspension of judging that has already started! This change has been made because it provides an additional night for optical judging. We will have a better chance of holding the optical judging if there are two nights instead of just one. Please pass this information on to anyone you think may need to know! If you have questions or comments regarding this schedule change please let us know. Thanks! The STMs.