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Date: May 23-25, 1980
Attendance: 839The 1980
RTMC started a couple more traditions. First, The Astronomy for America Award was renamed by Richard Poremba as the Clifford W.
Holmes Award. It was given to Robert Cox for his lifetime contribution to amateur
astronomy. The inscription read:
| We, your friends, fellow
telescope enthusiasts, and amateur astronomers wish to recognize and express our warmest
and sincerest appreciation for your outstanding contributions to the advancement of
telescope making. You are one among many, yet as Orion so conspicuously stalks the Winter
sky, your talents and your willingness to share with us shine brightly in our minds. We
are very thankful. |
Also, this was the first of the eight-year cycle of snow storms. As it turned out, Big
Bear, California, at 20 degrees, was the coldest spot in the nation that weekend and we
had a dusting of snow from a late spring storm. Of such stuff legends are born. Although
it remained cold the rest of the weekend, it did clear enough to allow viewing on Saturday
and Sunday nights.
This was the second year for what Sky & Telescope
has dubbed "the largest amateur astronomy swap meet in the world." I don't know
if it is true, but it sure sounds good.
Speakers
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Richard Berry, "How to Control
Friction in a Dobsonian Telescope" |
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Steven R. Coe, "The
Astrocamera" |
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Eugene Cross, "Limitations to
Telescopic Performance" |
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Robert E. Cox, "Have
Telescopes, Will Travel" |
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Steve Edberg, "Getting Started
in Amateur Astrophotography" |
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David Levy, "A Telescope
Farm" |
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Jack Marling, "Gas
Hypersensitization of 35mm Black and White and Color Film" |
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Jack Marling, "Night Sky
Pollution: Measurement, Evaluation, and reduction by Filter" |
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William Schramm, "Cleaning
Optical Surfaces With Collodion" |
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Clyde L. Tichenor, "A Quantum
Break in Observatory Costs" |
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Fred Tretta, "An Analysis of
Telescope Mounts" |
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Robert E. Fischer, "Elements
of Optical System Design" |
Merit Awards
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Tom Greska - 3" f/10, Best Wooden Mounting |
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Ralph Parlette - 8" f/15 Cassegrain, Efficiency & Craftsmanship |
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Tom Scott - 12.5" f/3.85-f/25, Excellence in Workmanship |
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Orien Ernest - 8" f/5 Air-powered astrophotography system,
Astrophotography Award |
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Wayne Kaaz - 10" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Innovative Design for
Portability |
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Bob Webb - 10" f/4.8 Newtonian, Stability & Craftsmanship |
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Greg Burns - 6" f/8, Junior Award |
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James Schwartz - 4" folded
refractor, Workmanship & Unique Design |
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Andrew Tomer - 12-1/2" f/15 trailer mounted Cassegrain, Unique Engineering |
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David Levy - 4" f/15 Mintaka, the "talking telescope,"
Innovative Idea |
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Jack Newton - Plastic cold camera,
Craftsmanship & Application |
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Maynard Clark - 8" f/8, Excellent Craftsmanship |
Clifford W. Holmes Award
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Robert Cox |
Warren Estes Award
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Robert Minor |
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