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STELLAFANE

CONVEnTION

Schedule of Events

This Schedule is about 90% complete.

A few more talks and activities may be added.

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Porter Turret Telescope at sunset
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Stellafane Family Activity: Build a CubeSat

Youth Events

Friday

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

Bunkhouse

Johny Colt & Dominic Fucile

Check out the Family & Youth Activities webpage to learn more.

Stellafane Land Use Hike

Other Activities

Friday

1:00 PM

2:30 PM

Meet at North Side of Food Tent

George Springston

Are you interested in what's below your feet as well as what's up in the sky? If so, the land use hike is for you. We'll head out on a hike on the wooded roads of Stellafane East and talk about what happened on this land from about 1850 onward; who owned ti and what did they do here. The total length of the hike will probably only be about one mile, but the route is steep in places, and it will be over some rough, rocky ground. Hiking boots are recommended and be prepared for mosquitoes and ticks. If you need water and snacks for the hike they can be purchased from our food vendor. Meet your hike leader, George, at the Food Tent prior to 1:00pm so the hike can start on time.

Telescope Making Demo

Telescope Making

Friday

1:00 PM

1:45 PM

Tent by T-Shirt Sales

Francis O'Reilly

Polishing & Figuring

Breuning Observatory Open

Observing

Friday

2:00 PM

5:00 PM

Breuning Observatory

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The domed Breuning Observatory is located just south of and downhill from the McGregor Observatory.

Hands-on :”Printed” Telescope Build

Telescope Making

Friday

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

Canopy near T- shirt sales & Mirror Grind Activity

Matteo Statti, Steve Dodson

All Ages, no experience needed

McGregor Observatory Solar Observing

Observing

Friday

2:00 PM

5:00 PM

McGregor Observatory

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Weather Permitting - The McGregor Observatory, home of the 13-inch Schupmann Refractor, is located on a hilltop in the northwest corner of Stellafane East.

Solar Observing Hour

Observing

Friday

2:00 PM

3:00 PM

Observing Fields

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All attendees with solar filters or projection set-ups are encouraged to share the Sun with other attendees

Stellafane's New Museum (Downtown)

Museum

Friday

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

Springfield Health Center, Pearl Street

Matt Considine, Curator

Also open 9:00 am to Noon on Sunday

Telescope Making Demo

Telescope Making

Friday

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

Tent by T-Shirt Sales

George Roberts

Mirror Testing with a Bath Interferometer - bring your own mirror up to 20 inches in diameter

Telescope Making Demo

Telescope Making

Friday

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

Tent by T-Shirt Sales

Dave Kelly & Doug Arion

Testing: Bring your own mirror

The History of Convention

All Level Talks

Friday

2:00 PM

3:00 PM

Flanders Pavilion

Matt Considine

Long-time Springfield Telescope Maker member Matt Considine will talk about the gatherings at Breezy Hill prior to the very first Stellafane Convention. Matt will also describe some specifics about the 1926 event. Unfortunately details from letters or notes have been hard to come by!

Try it Yourself! Hands on Grinding

Telescope Making

Friday

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

Small Tent by T-Shirt Sales

Pat Quinn

Give mirror grinding a try!

Astronomy Activities for Children

Youth Events

Friday

3:00 PM

4:00 PM

McGregor Observatory

Dr. Kristine Larsen

Ages 5 - 12 : Younger children are welcome but will need help from a parent. All about Saturn.

Shoot for the Moon!

All Level Talks

Friday

3:00 PM

4:00 PM

Flanders Pavilion

Richard Sanderson

Since before humans walked upon the lunar surface, Richard Sanderson has been captivated by our closest celestial neighbor. Today, as Adjunct Curator of Physical Science at the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts, Rich shows off the Moon to visitors using the Science Museum’s 20-inch Fillmore Telescope. He also enjoys photographing the moon through his 6-inch refractor, using just an iPhone camera. Rich’s presentation will focus on techniques for iPhone photography through a telescope. He will then take us on a tour of some of the Moon’s most interesting geological wonders.

Membership Information Session

All Level Talks

Friday

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

Clubhouse

Cecilia Detrich & Tom Spirock

Have you ever wondered about how to become a member of the Springfield Telescope Makers (STM)? Stop by the historic pink Stellafane clubhouse for this presentation from two Full Members to learn what membership in STM is all about and find out what it takes to become a member of this historic organization.

Meet & Greet Social Hour for Youthful Adults

Other Activities

Friday

4:00 PM

5:00 PM

Tent by Stellafane Clubhouse

Meghan Morse

Youthful adults, under 35-ish, should make their way up to the Stellafane Clubhouse to enjoy light refreshments and the company of other Stellafane fans and STEAM geeks. Share your story about what brought you to Stellafane and your interest in astronomy. Are you new to astronomy? Telescopes will be set up just outside the tent and Springfield Telescope Maker club members will be there for hands-on demonstrations of how to use a telescope for observing the night sky.

The Life and Times of Classic Refractor Telescopes

All Level Talks

Friday

4:00 PM

5:00 PM

Flanders Pavilion

Rich Nugent

While astronomers had been using refractor telescopes for over 400 years, during the decades that followed World War II backyard observers suddenly had access to high-quality, and relatively affordable refracting telescopes. Made in Japan and marketed by a seemingly endless parade of U.S. companies, these telescopes became the mainstay until the Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope boom of the early 1980’s. This beginner to intermediate presentation will include a brief and certainly non-exhaustive history of these telescopes, tips on where they might be found today, and how to prepare them for their 21st Century “first light.” Feeling nostalgic? You’ll enjoy this presentation!

Optical and Mechanical Registration

Telescope Competition

Friday

5:00 PM

8:00 PM

Clubhouse

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Stellafane and Beyond Film Premier

Major Events

Friday

5:30 PM

9:00 PM

Downtown Great Hall 100 River Street

Springfield Telescope Makers

Buy Tickets to attend with the Buy Tickets button. More info at https://www.stellafanevt.org/filmpremier

Space Science Board Games for Youthful Adults

Other Activities

Friday

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

McGregor Library

Meghan Morse

New this year! Join other Stellafane attendees ages 18-35-ish for an evening of fun as we wait for the sun to set.

Friday Evening Informal Talks

Major Events

Friday

7:30 PM

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Flanders Pavilion

Bruce Beford, MC

Short presentations by Convention Attendees

Observing Olympics

Observing

Friday

8:30 PM

12:00 AM

Observing Fields

Eileen Myers

Dusk to Midnight or later depending on observing conditions. See the Observing Olympics Page for details and observing lists.

Breuning Observatory Observing

Observing

Friday

9:00 PM

12:00 AM

Breuning Observatory

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Weather Permitting - The domed Breuning Observatory is located just south of and downhill from the McGregor Observatory.

Porter Turret Telescope Observing

Observing

Friday

9:00 PM

12:00 AM

Porter Turret Telescope

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Weather Permitting - The 1930 Porter Turret Telescope is located just north of the clubhouse on Breezy Hill.

Optical Competition Begins

Telescope Competition

Friday

10:00 PM

2:00 AM

Fields around Clubhouse

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We no longer provide printed schedules. There will be large schedule posters at all major buildings. You may want to download schedules to your device, or print them at home.

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Pop-up Exhibits at various times near the T-shirt Sales and Mirror Making Demo:

  • American Precision Museum (Windsor, VT)

  • DarkSky Vermont (Local chapter of DarkSky International)

  • AAVSO - American Association of Variable Star Observers)

  • RVTC Drone & Robotics Team

  • NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador

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Sunday: If you are camping at Stellafane, please clean up around your site and deposit trash in the dumpsters in the food area on your way out. Pickup Observing Olympics pins 10:30 to 11:30 hillside below the McGregor. You can also visit our new Stellafane Museum downtown on your way to the Interstate.

The Compact Schedules only list Talks, Workshops, Demoes and Activities

omitting many items listed in the full schedules, and focus on daytime items.

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