1977 RTMC Organizers (Left to Right): Ashley McDermott, Clifford Holmes, Robert Stephens, Luther Davidson, Pat Michaud

Orion Ernst' 16" F/6 Single Arm Fork Astrophotography Telescope

Kevin Medlock

Attendance: 398

Now in its 9th year, the RTMC was becoming known as the west coast equivalent of Stellafane. This year the RTMC was held on May 21-22. But as a premonition of years to come, many people had already arrived by Friday afternoon.

Ben Mayer gave the opening Saturday afternoon talk called "Let's All Blink Together" on using two slide projectors as a blink comparator. Robert Duhamel and Curtis Peebles of the San Diego Astronomy Association gave an entertaining talk about their club's experiences in developing a mountain observing site.

Brad Wallis and Robert Provin talked about astrophotography and two future Board Members of the RTMC, Robert Stephens and Randall Wilcox gave a humorous account of casting aluminum parts in sand and coming out with their skins intact.

Speakers:

• Ben Mayer, "Let's All Blink Together"
• Robert Duhamel, Curtis Peeples, "Astronomical Site Selection"
• Brad Wallis, Robert Proven, "Design Considerations for Photographic Reflectors"
• Randall Wilcox, Robert Stephens, "Poor Man's Aluminum Casting"
• Andrew Gallup, "Planetarium Device Demonstration"
• Art Leonard, "The Tilted Compound Telescope and its Application to the Leonard Reflector"
• Orien A. Ernest, "Cooled Emulsion Camera"
• Robert T. Little, "Astrophotography"

Merit Award Winners:

• Bill Anderson
• Todd Davidson
• Brad Dischner - 16" F/5
• Orien Ernest - 16" F/6 Single arm fork
• Denni Frerichs
• Harry Grieb - 10" F/5.6
• Don McGlauflin - 8" F/8 guide scope
• Ben Mayer
• Kevin Medlock
• Tom Muggleton
• Pierre Schwarr
• Roger Silva - 12" F/6

Orange County Astronomers at RTMC

Chabot Telescope Makers