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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

	Howard Banich, 28" f/4 motorized Dobsonian with eyepiece baffle and unique air circulation system
	Ken Graun, 4" f/5.5 Newtonian with magnetic secondary holder
	Gerry Logan, 8" f/15 Maksutov with unique tertiary mirror collimation
	Dave Pitou, 8" f/6 Newtonian with carbon fiber tube and electric slide focuser
	Eric Shrader, 10" collapsible Dobsonian
	Walter Thomas, 10" f/6.4 Dobsonian with red oak laminate tube

Clifford W. Holmes Award

Mike Simmons

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"