	Sun	Moon
Rise	6:57	10:19		3.6d
Set	16:16	19:13	13.8%

Stellafane 2008

At this years Stellafane Convention, long time Skyscrapers' member Al Hall in collaboration with Dick Parker from the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford won a coveted four of a possible four first place prizes for their twin 16" Classical Cassegrain telescopes. Not only were the mirrors ground, hand figured, and polished by Al and Dick, but virtually all of the parts were machined by the pair. Each took a slightly different approach in their design -- Dick decided for the somewhat portable approach (right side of photo) utilizing a tripod with virtually the same equatorial head and a lighter optical tube assembly (80 lbs. versus 160 lbs.). Al opted for the much heavier observatory pier -- his finished telescope weighs almost a 1/2 ton! The project took six years from start to finish and seeing them on Breezy Hill at the most celebrated convention on the planet for amateur telescope makers was a real treat for all convention goers.

Sky Data