RTMC Board Members Bob Stephens (left) and Allan Guthmiller (right) survey the Telescope Field during the pleasant Friday afternoon weather

Things get out of hand as Kevin Medlock starts a snowball fight

Bruce Sayre receive a Merit Award for his 20" F/4 split ring Dobsonian

Bill Lennartz received a Merit Award for
his 16" fork mounted Newtonian

Robert Pfaff received a Merit Award for
his 24" F/4.5 folded Newtonian on a
split-ring mount

A chilly Swap Meet

Bill Seavey teaches telescope concepts at the expanded Beginners Corner

Comets Panel Discussion with Alan Hale (left), Thomas Bopp (middle) and Charles Morris (right)

RTMC Organizers meet with Stellafane Organizers and launch the Grand Conspiracy to dominate Amateur Astronomy

Attendance: 1,802

The Theme this year was 'Getting Started in Astronomy - Expanding Your Astronomical Universe.' The theme was chosen to kick off our new Beginners Corner, which was started in 1995 by Bill Seavey. With heavy promotion by both Sky & Telescope Magazine and Astronomy Magazine over 220 people braved the weather to attend the Beginners Corner.

Speaking of the weather, the RTMC 8-year cycle struck again with a blizzard at the opening of the Friday Afternoon Vender selling session. Heavy snow fell off and on until the following morning sticking to the ground . Although it cleared on Saturday Afternoon, it remained cold for the rest of the weekend.

The Friday Night Show and Tell tradition continued with many pictures of Comet Hyakutake being shown.

We had great speakers, as usual. Highlights include Don Parker coming out from Florida and spoke about his efforts to image Comet Hyakutake. Jack Newton came down from Canada and talked about his new observatory. Dr. Ed Krupp talked about his favorite subject; Archeoastronomy. Robert Burnham, formerly of Astronomy Magazine gave a talk about the changing demographics in amateur astronomy. Also, Lief Robinson, the Editor of Sky & Telescope talked about the relationship of publishing to the Internet. We also had a panel on comets with Jean Mueller, Charles Morris, Alan Hale, and Thomas Bopp.

The Keynote Speaker this year was our own Ashley McDermott, Professor of Astronomy and History at the College of the Desert. We had let Ashley miss his first RTMC ever in 1995 so that he could go on sabbatical and took his grandkids on a a tour of astronomical and space exploration sites around the country.

Speakers:

• Bob Garfinkle, "Star Hopping"
• Dave Kenyon, "Successful CCD Imaging"
• Jeffrey R. Charles, "1995 Solar Eclipse of Thailand"
• Joel Harris, "1998 Total Eclipse in South America & Caribbean"
• Dr. E. C. Krupp, "Astronomy and Astronomers of Ancient Times"
• Robert Burnham, "Amateur Astronomy: Changing Hobby, Changing People"
• Leif Robinson, "Magazines of the Future: Paper or Electrons?"
• Steve Meyering, "AstroFair '96"
• Tim Robinson, "Astronomy Day '96"
• Wayne Johnson, "Searching for Supernova"
• Alan Hale, "Discovery of a Comet"
• Thomas Bopp, "The Same Comet"
• Jack Newton, "Sampling of CCD Imagers and Images"
• Joel Harris, "Group 70 Update"
• Richard Combs and Alan Gorski, "Collimation of Newtonian Telescopes"
• Gil Clark, "TIE Goes International"
• David White, "PIRA PZT7 - the 25.6" Refractor at Palomar"

Merit Awards:

• Robert Pfaff, Unique Modification of Split-Ring and Construction of a Folded Newtonian
• Bill Lennartz, Excellent Wooded Construction in a Large Equatorial Newtonian
• Dave Pitou, Outstanding Workmanship Using Advanced Materials
• John Lightholder, Outstanding Construction of a Lightweight Newtonian
• Bruce Sayre, Excellent Design and Craftsmanship
• James and Dan Ritts, Junior Division - Excellent First Telescope

Honorable Mentions:

• James Stevens, Large, Quick-Take-Down Dobsonian
• Dan Schwabe, Effective Azimuth Bearing Sealing System
• Stephen Collett, Craftsmanship
• Randy Johnson, Interesting Use of Materials
• John A. Volk, Well-Done First Telescope

Warren Estes Award: Don Pies

Cliff Holmes Award: Gil Clark

Given to an individual for a "Major Contribution to Popularizing Astronomy"

Clyde Tombaugh Award: Steve Kufeld

Given for "Creative Innovation in Telescope Design"

John Lightholder received a Merit Award for his
ultra-light 14-1/2" F/6.6 Newtonian