Date: May 25-27, 2001
Attendance: 1,695
This year the Moon was between
new and first quarter, setting before midnight on Friday and Saturday. In addition, the weather
was again near-perfect for the whole weekend. During the day, it was sunny with a gentle
breeze to lower the temperatures, while at night, the seeing was steady and the skies
transparent. The views rivaled the legendary views from 1998.
This was the year we renamed the
conference to the RTMC Astronomy Expo to better reflect the nature of the event. The art
of telescope making is only one part of this get-together which has evolved to encompass
multiple aspects of the hobby. This year's theme was “Deep Sky” and we had a
rich assortment of speakers and workshops on the subject. Renowned photographer and visual
observer Roger Clark gave the Keynote Address, titled "Visual Observing the 'National
Parks' of the Deep Sky."
As usual, the RTMC had
concurrent workshop sessions along with its now popular Beginners Corner. These workshops
proved to be a rousing success with the tent for with the workshops packed to capacity.
Speakers
 |
Tom
Polakis, “What to Look for at RTMC” |
|
John
Dobson, “Deep Space: What is Behind It?” |
|
George
Greaney, “Deep Sky Astrophotography Under Nevada Skies” |
|
Alan
Adler and Bryan Greer, “Achieving High Resolution in Reflectors with Thermal
Management” |
|
Dennis
Mammana, “Top Ten Myths About Night Sky Photography” |
|
Allan
Guthmiller, “The 20-Inch Cast Iron Wonder; A Gallery of the Heavens” |
|
Monsignor
Ronald Royer, “The Stars Lead Everywhere: My Life, Ron Royer” |
|
Roger
Clark, “Visual Observing the National Parks of the Deep Sky” |
|
Dale
Mais, “Amateur Astronomical Spectroscopy” |
|
Peter
Abrahams, “H. Dennis Taylor & the Design and Testing of Astronomical
Instruments” |
|
Roger
Clark, “The Most Important Optical System: Your Eyes: My Experiences with
Retinal Detachments & Lasik Surgery” |
|
Kenneth
Lum, “Bernard Schmidt – A Life in Optics” |
|
Babak
Tafreshi, “Amateur Astronomy in Iran” |
|
John
Hoot, “Mars Orbiter, O3 Lander & Amateur Observations” |
|
Rick
Scott, “Lurie-Houghton Telescope as a First ATM Project” |
|
Rick
Yessayian, “Telescopes in Education” |
Workshops
|
Eyepieces,
Filters, and Other Accessories for Deep Sky Observing, Derek Wong, Moderator |
|
Science
with your Telescope, Dave Kenyon, Moderator |
|
Astronomy
101 for Astronomy Widows, Carmelita Miranda, Moderator |
|
Beginning
Telescope Selection, Dennis Bishop , Moderator |
|
Astrophotography
– Film and CCD: Weighing the Options, Wil
Milan, Moderator |
|
Thermal
Management in Reflectors, Alan Adler & Bryan Greer, Moderators |
Merit Awards
|
Alan
Adler, Flex
mirror telecope |
|
Larry
Arnold, Craftsmanship on
12" telescope |
|
Hulan
Fleming, Two scopes,
Schiefspieglers |
|
Maggie
Halberg, Excellent
Craftsmanship, First telescope |
|
Mike
Kavanaugh, Equatorial mount |
|
Gerry
Logan, Refractor |
|
Gilbert
Machin, Cassegrain telescope |
|
Robert
Pfaff, Newtonian
telescope |
|
James
Ross, Excellent
Craftsmanship, First telescope |
|
Mike
Schartman, Observer’s chair |
|
Rick Scott |
|
Mike
Spooner |
|
Charles
Wicks, 20"
Electric Newtonian telescope plus 6" travel scope |
|
Curt &
Jan Wittenberg, 12.5" Dobsonian |
Honorable Mentions
|
Richard
Andreassen, Unique shutter design |
|
Roger
Ceragioli, Recycled glass
refractor |
Clifford W. Holmes Award
|
Scott
Roberts |
Warren Estes Award
|
Mark
Briggs |
Clyde Tombaugh Award
|
Tony
and Daphne Hallas |
|
.