From: "Scott Berfield" 
To: 
Reply-To: "Scott Berfield" 


I really miss RTMC. It was always a good time - even waking up to 1/2: of
snow in the morning. Not usually much of an observing conference, but a lot
of fun nevertheless. Great door prizes too. Last time I went the guy next
to me won about $6 grand worth of Meede equipment. Tickets were sequential
too -- that really hurt :)

-sb

________________________________

From: owner-atm{at}shore.net on behalf of Kreig McBride
Sent: Mon 5/26/2003 1:26 PM
To: atm{at}shore.net
Subject: ATM RTMC - short report




Just got home last night from RTMC.

Not much to report from my point of view.  A lot of people and a lot of
commercial scopes.  A good chance to see some fine scopes, renew
friendships and make new ones.

Some home made scopes:

8.5" f/12  refractor,  the lens was custom made in China and made very
good images.  The tube was a 4 sided wood box, made of apple ply, very nice
craftsmanship and nice looking instrument.  The owner also built a very
nice and heavy German EQ mount, 3 inch shafts in pillow block bearings on
heavy Aluminum plate. Very nice construction.  The telescope was not very
stable, a problem that seems to go with long tubes and small bearings.   I
say small
because 3" bearings are small compared to dob sized bearings. My
8" refractor with a longer tube mounted on a dob mount is very stable.

6"  f/12 (????) refractor. Builder designer, Gerry Logan.   This telescope
was folded so the the observer looks through the scope through the polar
axis.  Check out Pasadena mount as found in Sedgwicks book. A very fine
instrument, typical of Mr Logans craftsmanship.

6" f/12  refractor by Bob Pfaff, another execellent folded refractor
on a GEM.   Inspirational!!!

6"  f/???  Lurie Houghton (cassegrain), made by Roger Ceragioli.   This is
an excellent telescope giving the sharpest and highest contrast views on
the mountain, in my opinion.  This scope easily equals many of the high end
Apo refractors.  I am still surprised more ATM's dont build these scopes. 
First "popularized" in Bill Cooks, ATM Journal several years ago.

There was also a 12" Maksutov (cassegrain) that perfomed excellently,
however, it was a commercial scope. There were several sun scopes of
various deigns and got me pumped up to make one.

The swap meets were heavily visited and lots of money exchanged hands.  The
food at RTMC was the worst it it has ever been if you can believe it could
get worse.    I could write a long long email about the food problems. 
Lets
just say, I wont be buying anymore food tickets.

One last observation.  I don't think the IDA has a chance in being
successfull in changeing the bad lighting here in the USA.   RTMC site had
unshielded lights up on many buildings, new additions. There were
unshielded lights on the observatory!!!   Some campsites had
"coleman" lanterns in
operation.  Most buildings and dorms have interior lights which were on and
the light shining out the windows was blinding. Campers and motor homes
with white lights, and . . . .    in one of the open dorms, a projection
screen
with movies to watch. The light was blinding for dark adjusted eyes.   Are
we setting good exapmles for future ATM's??

RTMC is still an excellent conference with a lot  to do and see, a lot of
people work hard to make this a success each year and their work is greatly
appreciated!!!  Yes, i will attend again and again and again . . . . .

I will however, learn how to cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    :-)

Kreig

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