Time & Location
Aug 14, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Great Hall of the Historic Gear Shaper Building
100 River Street, Springfield VT 05156
(10 min from convention)
The premier of Stellafane and Beyond is a special fundraising event and the proceeds will go to support the mission of the Springfield Telescope makers. There will be a social hour with food from 5:30 to 6:30 followed by the premier of the film. Tickets are available at the “Buy Tickets” link where you purchase all tickets for convention.
• The “Astronomer” includes the screening of the film: $100
• The “Telescope Maker” ticket also includes a meet and greet with the director and stars: $150
This pink clubhouse in Vermont holds over 100 years of amateur telescope-making history and is key to the global development of astronomy, optics, and space science. Discover how this amateur telescope-making club turns astronomy into a science accessible to everyday people and how it continues to affect the larger world of science & technology, space exploration, and national defense. The story of one amateur club and its impact on Astronomy and optics in the last 100 years.
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“The best optics in the world are made with two hands - not with machines, not with computers, not with any of that” - Phil Rounsville, featured in the film, is a professional optical engineer who develops high-precision optics for NASA’s space telescopes and other clients who need the very best technology. Phil’s journey and impact began at the iconic star party Stellafane on Breezy Hill where he was inspired to craft his first telescope.
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"This film started as a much smaller project in my mind, but after meeting the Springfield Telescope Makers and learning about their deep history and widespread influence on the world of science and space exploration, I realized that there was much more to the story that I needed to tell” said Tara Roberts Zabriskie, filmmaker.
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"Over the last century, many of these telescope makers worked on projects for NASA, the military, and the CIA influencing development of space telescopes, spy satellites and infrared military cameras. Those interviewed in our film and their predecessors are some of the best at what they do, all because they got inspired and learned skills from this small telescope-making club in southern Vermont. I want this film to reach curious minds of all ages and inspire exploration of the art and science of telescopes and amateur telescope making.”
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Founded in 1923, the Springfield Telescope Makers celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Stellafane Convention this summer and continue to focus on their mission “stimulate interest in astronomy and allied sciences by preserving and fostering the skill of amateur telescope making.” If you are interested in an opportunity to sponsor the film, information is available at the link below.
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Moosey Productions is an independent film company focusing on documentary projects that create hope and inspire change in the areas of nature, science, health, and history.