RTMC_CLogoJ.jpg (9992 bytes)

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

 

Bronze Sponsors

Gems A Plenty

RTMC Astronomy Expo

May 23-27, 2013
Camp Oakes
Big Bear City, California

2006-05-27 Panorama 01(690).jpg (150714 bytes)

2007-05 RTMC Telescope Field[2](690).jpg (116937 bytes)

Main Telescope Field at the RTMC Astronomy Expo

Originally called the Telescope Makers Conference, the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference (RTMC) was founded in 1969 by Clifford W. Holmes as a way for amateur telescope makers to share their craft. In 1975, the RTMC moved to its current home at Camp Oakes, a YMCA camp near Big Bear City. Located 50 miles northeast of Riverside in the San Bernardino mountains, the site offers space for camping, several dormitories and 18 three-sided shelters, a meeting/dining hall, and the Charles Walker Observatory. The camp is located at an elevation of 7,600 feet. Click on the following link to view a labeled aerial photograph of Camp Oakes.

Since its inception, the RTMC has expanded to encompass all aspects of amateur astronomy from beginning to advanced topics and from telescope making to "armchair" astronomy. Recently, the RTMC has included events for the whole family with horseback riding, hikes, activities for spouses and activities for the young kids. In 2000, the official name of the conference was changed to the "RTMC Astronomy Expo."

During the RTMC the camp has more people than a typical recreational campground of its size, but the primary reason for attending is precisely because it offers a chance to rub shoulders with a large number of people who know telescopes and like to talk about them. What we offer is a chance to see and look through a large variety of telescopes (with relatively dark skies and high altitude), attend talks by professional and amateur astronomers on different aspects of telescope construction and use, see some astronomical equipment and software in use, and buy astronomical equipment and software (often at reduced prices). The vendors contribute door prizes for Saturday and Sunday evenings. We don't know exactly what prizes we'll have in advance, but in the past there have been telescopes of 8 to 12 inches in aperture.

Vendors ranging from major telescope manufacturers to people selling T-shirts have booths at the telescope field and along the paths leading to it.

Date
The 45th annual RTMC Astronomy Expo will take place from Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27, 2013.

Location
YMCA Camp Oakes, five miles southeast of Big Bear City on State Route 38 at Lake Williams Road between mileposts 44 and 45. This location is about 50 miles northeast of Riverside in the San Bernardino mountains.
Longitude 116° 45' 15" West
Latitude 34° 13' 50" North
Altitude 7250 feet (2210 meters)

Click here for maps and directions..

Moonrise and Moonset (PDT)
Thursday, May 23: moonset 4:23 AM, moonrise 6:28 PM
Friday, May 24: moonset 5:13 AM, moonrise 7:37 PM
Saturday, May 25: moonset 6:09 AM, moonrise 8:42 PM
Sunday, May 26: moonset 7:12 AM, moonrise 9:43 PM
Monday, May 27: moonset 8:18 AM, moonrise 10:37 PM

Kids Camp - New for 2013

A PDF file for the Kids Camp is available by clicking on the image.

This year Camp Oakes is sponsoring a staffed Kids Camp with arts & crafts and camp activities for groups aged 5-6, 7-9, and 10+. Lunch is included in the fee of $15 ($20 after May 10).

Keynote Speaker

Our keynote speaker for Saturday night will be Trina Ray. Trina has been at JPL for many years and has lots of experience and lots of stories to share. She is a leader of the team planning observations of Titan during each Cassini flyby of that intriguing moon and will share highlights of Cassini's discoveries across the Saturn system. Trina is very entertaining... you won't want to miss this!

Warren Keller AstroImaging Workshop, Sunday May 26th

Some of the finest astroimagers in the world have shared their expertise at the Astronomy Expo throughout the years. This year, teacher extraordinaire Warren Keller will be leading the program.

Warren, (of billionsandbillions.com) is not only an accomplished imager in his own right (see his M13 photo), but has shared his expertise in many forms, including his comprehensive "Five S’s" series of articles in Astrophoto Insight Magazine, his extensive "Image Processing 4 Astrophotography" tutorials, and his new series on PixInsight. He will have lots to offer both the beginner and the advanced imager.

The imaging workshop is a premium event at RTMC Astronomy Expo, runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, and requires an additional registration fee. Participation is limited, and workshops have sold out every year, so be sure to register for this workshop early.

Scheduled Speakers

Saturday (not the actual scheduled order, which is TBD)

"The Cleaning and Characterization of the Chamberlin 20-inch Clark Objective" - Jack Eastman
"The Overhaul of the Saegmuller Equatorial of the Chamberlin Observatory" - Jack Eastman
"Palomar Observatory History" - Steven Flanders
"Science at Palomar Observatory" - Kin Searcy
"Alt-Alt Telescopes with Video Feedback Control System" - Howard Royster
"Using low-cost / low-tech materials to improve astronomy education and outreach" - Daniel Barth
"The Hubble Deep Fields" - Timothy Thompson
"Women Hold up Half the Sky: a Brief History of Women in Astronomy" - Joann Eisberg
"Telescopes, Eyepieces, and Astrographs" - Richard Berry

Sunday

"45 Years of Spectacular and Interesting Comets" - Charles Morris
"Observing Comet Ison" - Steve Edberg and Charles Morris
"Through Rose Colored Glasses: What We See Depends on How We Look" - Alex McConahay


Search this site

Google
WWW www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org
.
COPYRIGHT @ RTMCASTRONOMYEXPO.ORG