Stellafane! "Shrine to the Stars"

Well, the Grandaddy of all starparties, Stellafane, or more officially, "The Stellafane Convention" opened Online Registration this week. Wow! This must be an important post--I hear you cry--fifteen words into the post and the Metacom Observatory guy already has given us 3 links! Use the links, folks! Find out all you can about Stellafane and its lore. Learn about the Pink Clubhouse and The Springfield Telescope Makers  and its founder, Russell W. Porter and about the wonders of the Springfield, Vermont Skies.

Although really an astronomy convention and telescope making competition, much of the time is spent observing under dark skies on a small mountain along the New Hampshire border in mid Vermont. Although, the Milky Way can cast a shadow some years, depending on atmospreric conditions, these are not the darkest skies in North America. However, the sense of fellowship, friendship, welcoming volunteers and sprawling grounds entice generations of families to return, year after year.

I have been attending the Stellafane Convention since 2006. The first year I attended, no one was allowed on the grounds until 9:00 AM Friday Morning, opening the Convention. Therefore, members of my astronomy club, the Astronomical Society of Southern New England (ASSNE) caravaned to Springfield, camped Thursday night in a nearby campground (it clouded up and rained that night) and then broke camp at 5:00 AM and drove a mile or so to Stellafane to wait in line at the gate, enter and set up a new camp. Well, Stellafane realized they could allow Conventioneers in on Thursday afternoon and charge folks a modest fee for an extra night of camping and observing while taking some pressure off of the gate and the volunteers on Friday morning...

As an added result, ASSNE found a campsite that works for us, is large enough as our numbers have grown and relatively renoved from the busier areas and walking distance to everything in Stellafane. Catch the shuttlebus to the Pink Clubhouse at the tee shirt hut to avoid the walk up Breezy Hill. I love the Food Tent, where one might have breakfast with any number of well-known astronomers or a few new friends that let you peek through their 30 inch telescope last night...the grounds around the Pink Clubhouse are a wonderful site to display the wonderful, home-made telescopes and you miss a treat if you do not spend some of your days at Stellafane wandering those hallowed grounds. See the sundial on the back of the Clubhouse! See the photos that adorn the inner walls of the Clubhouse! See the Solar System walk up Breezy Hill!

On Saturday Morning, go to the Swap Tables to find a treasure or two. Stellafane has a strict policy against commercialism and vendors at the convention, but Conventioneers may sell their own telescopes, acessories, telescope-making supplies and parts, books and more at the Swaps areas.

Later in the day, attend the traditional barbecue and the Convention Meeting in the open ampitheater below the food tent (or in the enclosed Flanders Pavillion when weather threatens) where a raffle is held before the Keynote Speakers. Often, raffle winners can claim some wonderful eyepieces, tee-shirts, telescope accessories and books...

End of part one...ready to register? Stayed tuned for Part Two...