Date: May 10-11, 1975
Attendance: Approximately 200This was an
important year for the RTMC as it moved from the San Jacinto Mountains to Camp Oakes in
the San Bernardino Mountains. This move was made necessary by increasing costs at Camp
Isomata in Idyllwild.
Camp Oakes seemed ideally suited for the RTMC. A reasonable
drive from the Southern California basin, it boasted dark skies, warm weather, large
expanses of land to set up tents and telescopes on, a large dining hall, a pool and a
lake. In addition, it had a large open field on which many telescopes could be set up.
As was their tradition in recent years, the Chabot
Telescope Makers showed up en masse with many new and interesting telescopes. Sadly this
was one of the last years they brought telescopes decorated with silver foiled tubes with
names in the Star Trek tradition.
Fifty telescopes including the 24" of the San
Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers were set up. A tour of the Big Bear Solar Observatory was
also conducted.
Speakers
 |
Dr. Frank Melsheimer, "Beginning
Astrophotography with Fast Optical Systems" |
 |
Jon van Gelder, "Digital Setting Circles"
|
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Clyde Tichenor, "Binocular Observing" |
 |
James Brooks, "Engineering Aspects of
Telescope Making" |
 |
Malcolm Browne, "Fabricating Steel Tools for
Grinding Mirrors" |
 |
Joseph Hobart, "An Accurate and Versatile
Inverter for Telescope Drives" |
 |
Bill Hornaday and Bill Lancaster,
"Construction of Juniper Park Observatory" |
 |
Don Shricker, "Construction of a 10-Foot Domed
Shelter" |
Merit Awards (partial list)
 |
David Erickson, 5" f/4 Wright-Schmidt |
|