Date: May 27-29, 2005
Attendance: 1,695
In 2005, with a waning gibbous
Moon, attendance was up over the previous year.
The theme for this year was
"The History of Astronomy," highlighted by Keynote Speakers Todd and Robin
Mason, whose presentation
covered some of the major technological and intellectual breakthroughs set against sheer
human will that enabled the giant Hale telescope to work. Their presentation included an
exclusive ten-minute preview sample from the documentary involving the first attempt to
pour the 200-inch mirror glass for the Palomar telescope at Corning Glass Works in 1934
and a short slide show featuring 3D images of all three of Hale’s observatories.
For the first time, an
astroimaging contest was held at the RTMC, with a number of excellent images in four
different categories being submitted.
Another first for the RTMC was
the live webcast of Jerry Hilburn's workshop on imaging with
the Canon Digital Rebel.
John Dobson made a special
appearance in the new amphitheater and was given a special award for his 90th birthday in
honor for his contributions to amateur astronomy.
Speakers
Keynote
Speakers: Todd and Robin Mason, "Palomar's 200-inch Telescope: The
Impossible Challenge"
Robert
Fulton Goff Invitational Lecture on Optics and Optical Design: Dean Ketelsen,
"Big Glass: Making the Largest Mirrors in the World at Steward Observatory Mirror
Lab"
 |
Sandy Bumgarner and Jo Dempsey,
"Lick Observatory, From the Frontier to the Future of Astronomy" |
|
Tofigh Heidarzadeh, "Comets in
Netwon's Cosmology" |
|
Ken Graun, "Charles Messier: The
Man, His Friends, and the Times" |
|
Peter Abrahams, "The Telescope in
Japan, 1600-1900" |
|
Gene Cross, "Telescope Innovations
of Isaac Newton" |
|
Roger Ceragioli, "Wolfgang Busch and
the Little-Known HAB Apochromat" |
|
Mike Simmons, "Astronomy Comes of
Age: Mt. Wilson's First Century, 1904-2004" |
|
Shelley R. Bonus, "Hubble and
Humason: The Odd Couple of Mount Wilson" |
|
Allan Guthmiller, "On the Cutting
Edge: Modifying RGB Filters for Improved Autoguiding" |
|
Chris Schur, "Robotic Aurora Cam
Update -- Success!" |
|
Sean Walker, "In Pursuit of the
Ultimate Image" |
|
Rick Yessayian, "The Transit of
Venus -- An Educator's Perspective" |
|
Stephanie McLaughlin, "Amateur
Observing Opporunities for NASA's Deep Impact Mission to Comet 9P/Tempel I" |
|
Jerry Hilburn, "Cassini Mission
Update" |
|
Ashley McDermott, "The 50-Year
History of the Western Amateur Astronomers" |
Workshops
|
Fun with Janet Planet and the Solar
System, Shelley R. Bonus, aka Space E. Tracy |
|
So
You'd Like to Go Into Astrophotography, Don Goldman |
|
Imaging
With the Canon Digital Rebel, DSLR Focus and Meade 10" GPS, Jerry Hilburn |
|
Engaging
the Public With Astronomy, Paul Wicker, The Galileo Guy |
|
Planetary
Imaging With Webcams, Ralph Megna and Walt Lickteig |
|
Solving
the Solar Imaging Puzzle, Gary Palmer |
|
Solar
Sail Orbit Determination From Ground Observations: A Professional-Amateur Collaboration,
Mark S. Whorton |
|
Fun
for Kids of All Ages With Janet Planet & the Red Planet Mars, Shelley
R. Bonus, aka Space E. Tracy |
|
Personal Reminiscences of the Early
Days on Mt. Wilson, Mike Simmons and Don Nicholson |
|
Visual and Comet CCD Observing,
Charles S. Morris |
Merit Awards
Astronomer's Choice Award
Katie Barmazel, Sarah Davis & Ivy White (Girl Scout Troop 83), 8" f/5 Dobsonian with homemade
mirror
Clifford W. Holmes Award
Clyde Tombaugh Award
|
Jim Burr |
Astroimaging Contest Winners
Best of Show: Cindy Earl,
"Meteor & Plane Over Culp Valley"
Meteors/Atmospheric Effects: Cindy Earl, "Meteor & Plane Over Culp
Valley"
Eclipses/Transits: Carmelita Miranda & Charles S. Morris, "Venus Transit
From Nice, France"
Solar System: John Laborde, "Comet Machholz & Double Cluster"
Deep Sky: John Laborde, "Orion Mosaic" |
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