This conference was described by Stephen J. O'Meara as a "multidimensional extravaganza that attempts to satisfy the whims of all amateur astronomers." It was dedicated to the memory of Robert E. Cox who passed away on December 15, 1989.

This conference was notable for the visit from Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto. The Western Amateur Astronomers introduced the Clyde Tombaugh Award for creative innovation in telescope design. In 1992 responsibility for the award was transferred to the RTMC.

Brian Marsden of the International Astronomical Union gave the Keynote Speech entitled: "Has the Hot Seat Gotten any Hotter?"

On an administrative front, the RTMC officially became the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference, Inc. on May 22, 1990. Since 1969, the RTMC had been an event sponsored by the Riverside Astronomical Society (RAS). The RAS itself had incorporated in 1983. From the mid 1970's to the early 1980's, the RTMC was co-sponsored by both the Riverside Astronomical Society and the San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers (SBVAA). However, by the mid 1980's, the SBVAA participation was starting to dwindle and the RAS once again took full responsibility for the RTMC.

By now, many local clubs were helping provide the manpower necessary to but on an event of this magnitude. The Orange County Astronomers, OPTEC, The San Diego Astronomical Association, the SBVAA and the Ventura County Amateur Astronomers all helped the RAS put on the RTMC. At this time, Cliff Holmes, hoping to broaden the leadership of the RTMC, and encourage broader club participation, asked the RAS to spin off the RTMC as a separate entity. That was done, and the RTMC, Inc. was born, electing Clifford W. Holmes as its first Executive Director, Ashley McDermott as its first Vice President, and Robert Stephens as its first (and still only) Secretary and Chief Financial Officer.

Speakers

	Allen Abrams, "The Inner Reaches of Outer Space in Amateur Astronomy"
	Paul Morefield, "Astrophoto Bloopers and How to Avoid Them, or Unexpected Astrophotos"
	Charles Townsend, "New Vistas in the Teaching of Astronomy"
	Don Parker, "Collimation, Mirror Cells and You"
	John Bortle, "Great Comets From the 16th Century to the Present"
	Ben Meyer, "Moonshine in Beijing"
	George Keene, "Stars and Bars, Image Quality in Astronomy"
	Russ Genet, "Robotic Telescopes"
	Steve McArthur, "CCD Imaging and Astronomical Applications"
	Open Forum, With Dr. Clyde Tombaugh and Dr. James Christy
	Richard Berry, "Thoughts on Robert E. Cox"
	Dr. Brian Marsden, "Has the Hot Seat Gotten any Hotter?"
	Peter Ceravolo, "Aluminizing Your Own Mirror"
	Matt Mazurek, "Observation of Variable Stars Using Binoculars and Small Telescopes"
	Chris Schur, "Sky Shooting Cygnus, a Treasure Trove of Hydrogen Alpha Nebulosities"
	John Labrode, "Construction of a Wright Schmidt"
	Fr. Ronald Royer, "Video Clips of Jupiter"
	Dan Gordon, "PluseGuide and PulseView (New Applications of Pulse Technology)"
	Ronald S. Breasher, "Breaking New Ground: Edwin Hubble's Telescopes"
	John Briggs, Thinking Big, the Group 70 Telescope Project"
	Al Gorski, "How to Improve Your Meteor Photos"
	Larry McDavid, "Mars Lander, Viking GCMS, Hardware in Inside Anecdotes"
	Stanley Gorodensky, "The Design and Construction of a Dome and Observatory Building by a Non-Engineer"

Merit Awards

	William Ball, Solid, well-crafted wooden tripod/mount for 6" APO refractor
	Carter Roberts, Traveling mounting system for astrophotography - single-arm fork mounting
	David John Shipman, Ultrasolid mobile 12.2" f/6 Newtonian
	Steve Collett, 8" f/4.5 well-integrated Dobsonian Newtonian
	Gerry Logan - 7" f/10 Schupmann folded refractor
	James R. Brunkella, 16" f/4.5 well-crafted Dobsonian
	Ray Magdziarz, 10" Dobsonian with D'Autumne mounting drive platform
	Jackson Brown, Junior Division - 10" f/6

Honorable Mentions

	Vance C. Tree, Rigid break down box tube design for 12.5" Dobsonian
	Richard Livitski, 13" Binocular design and construction
	David Ambrose and Mary Henderson, Wood-composite tube construction for their 8" F/20 Dall-Kirkham
	Michael Gibbons - 8" f/8 Newtonian equatorial
	Mike Spooner, Homemade 6" Cassegrain
	Devin Onesti, Junior Division - First Telescope, 4" Refractor
	Ray Coutchie, 6" Dual convertible Newtonian

Clifford W. Holmes Award

Dick Buchroeder

Clyde Tombaugh Award

Clyde Tombaugh

Clyde Tombaugh and his wife Patsy Gerry Logan's 7" f/10 Schupmann folded refractor William Ball received a merit Award for his 6" APO on a beautifully crafted mount Richard Livitski received an Honorable Mention for his 13.1 binoculars Jack Eastman with his 4" Alvan Clark & Sons Refractor Michael Gibbons received an Honorable Mention for his first telescope Stephen J. O'Meara talks shop with Al Nagler Carter Roberts received a Merit Award for his traveling astrophotography system Clyde Tombaugh Arthur Guilfoil shows Steve (Fu Man) Edberg (middle) and David Levy (right) his refractor