Date: May 23-25, 2003
Attendance: 1,880

In 2003, with a last quarter Moon, attendance was the highest since 1990. Skies were clear on Saturday and partly cloudy the rest of the weekend.

The theme for this year was "Building Your Own Observatory," with Nigel Sharp of Kitt Peak National Observatory featured as Keynote Speaker. Peter Ceravolo gave the inaugural Robert Fulton Goff Invitational Lecture on Optics and Optical Design. The Board of Directors of the RTMCAE managed to convince Steve Edberg that the Clifford W. Holmes Award would be going to Charles Morris until he heard his own name announced, to his vast surprise. As usual, the RTMCAE had concurrent workshop sessions along with the Beginners Corner.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Nigel Sharp, "How to Make it Better"

Robert Fulton Goff Invitational Lecture on Optics and Optical Design: Peter Ceravolo, "A New All Spherical Optical Design for Meter Class Telescopes"

	Steve Edberg, "Planetary Action in 2003-04"
	Steve O'Meara, Why is the Double Cluster not in Messier's Catalogue?
	Rick Fienberg, "The Observatories of Sky & Telescope"
	Bill Wickett, "Construction of a 'Bicylinder' Style Observatory"
	Steve Edberg, "Then NGC Observatory: A California Real Estate Partnership"
	Chris Schur, "An Arizona Observatory for a Schmidt Camera"
	Kim Hyatt, "SLAS Stansbury Park Observatory Project"
	John Sanford, "Building the Starhome Observatory"
	Mike Rushford, "A Remotely Controlled Solar Observatory"
	Tim Thompson, "Astrophysics, Cosmology and the Age of the Universe"
	Tom Quinn, "Ramona Observatory -- Trials and Tribulations"
	Peter Abrahams, "Solar Telescopes From 1600 to 1900"
	David Kenyon, "A Unique Roll Off Roof Observatory"
	Wayne Johnson, "Is It Dome Yet?"
	Glenn Malcolm, "RAS Observatory Project"

Workshops

	Big Band Traveling Star Show
	Observatory Zoning/Permits, Ralph Megna, Moderator
	Outreach, Ron Tindall, Moderator

Merit Awards

	John Welch, Easy to Build Solar Projection System
	David V. Lee, Outstanding Telescope and Transport System
	Roger C. Ceragioli, Outstanding Craftsmanship in a Lurie-Houghton Newtonian
	Sonny Tremoulet, Outstanding System Design and Craftsmanship
	James Strogen, Excellent Design and Execution of a Carry-On Telescope
	William B. Phelps, Elegant Wireless Telescope Control System
	Robert Pfaff, 6" f/12 Folded Refractor
	Gerry Logan, 6.2" f/15 Folded Refractor with Stationary Eyepiece "Logan" Mount "Just Another Telescope to Build"

Honorable Mentions

	Rich Strobel, SCT Observing Tray with Drawer
	Trevor & Todd Rogelstad, Parent/Child Telescope Project
	Deanna Chafe, First Telescope
	Steven Overholt, Economic Use of Materials in a Finder Mount
	Robert A. Hess, Solar Observing System
	Gina McFarlane, Parent/Child Telescope Project
	Bill Reed, Ultra Light 10" Telescope
	Mark R. Briggs, Stable Rotating Tube Assembly
	Jim Stevens, Portable Carry-On Telescope

Clifford W. Holmes Award

Steve Edberg

Warren Estes Award

Walter Thomas   Scope 1  Scope 2

Clyde Tombaugh Award

Coronado Instruments