On a remote, windswept hilltop in the Green Mountains of Vermont, just outside the tiny village of Springfield, a strange ritual takes place every summer. As the sun dips below the treeline, hundreds of homemade telescopes turn skyward. There are no massive government grants here, no billion-dollar mirrors. Just passion, ingenuity, and the Milky Way spilling across a pitch-black sky.
Participants compete for awards in optical excellence and mechanical design. It is often referred to as the "Olympics" of telescope making.
In an age where we look at screens more than the sky, Stellafane feels like a pilgrimage to a more hopeful time. It is a place where a person with a chunk of glass, a handful of grit, and a lot of patience can build a window to the cosmos. stellafane vt
Check the official Stellafane website for exact dates, as the convention sells out camping spots months in advance. And remember: The best telescope is the one you build yourself.
Today, the (held each August) is the oldest continuously running star party in the world. But don’t expect the sterile, silent atmosphere of a professional observatory. On a remote, windswept hilltop in the Green
The event includes workshops on mirror grinding, telescope assembly, and astronomical lectures, maintaining the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) spirit established by Porter. Site Information Location: Breezy Hill, Springfield, VT.
As Russell Porter once wrote: "The stars are the same as they ever were. It is only our ability to see them that improves." Just passion, ingenuity, and the Milky Way spilling
So, he did what any tinkerer would do: He built his own.
It is not a trade show where you buy gear; it is a gathering where you show off what you made . The centerpiece of the weekend is the , where the rhythmic, grinding sound of glass-on-glass acts as a drumbeat for the event. Veterans teach novices the ancient art of "pushing glass," turning a rough slab into a parabolic mirror capable of capturing photons that have traveled for millions of years.
Springfield Telescope Makers! Mars with 13" Schupmann. Mars with 13" Schupmann at peak opposition Mars with 13" Schupmann. the con... Stellafane Stellafane History in Print Stellafane history. Willard, 1976, 274 pages. This is the definitive biography of the multi-talented Porter by our Stellafane club... Springfield Telescope Makers 2023 Stellafane Convention Page Joe Rao, our keynote speaker, delivered an excellent keynote talk titled "Adventures of an Eclipse Chaser". people streamed out of... Springfield Telescope Makers Stellafane Observatory National Historic Landmark The Stellafane complex contains both the original clubhouse. Since their construction in 1924 and 1930, respectively, the clubhous... Springfield Telescope Makers 2014 Stellafane Convention The McGregor Observatory at Stellafane East was constructed by the club be- tween 1989 and 1995. built by Dino Argentini in 1964 a... Springfield Telescope Makers Albert Ingalls and Russell Porter at the Stellafane Convention ... This paper traces how media representations encouraged enthusiasts, youth and skilled volunteers to participate actively in scienc... ResearchGate Jan. 30, 1924: Stellafane is born - Astronomy Magazine Jan 30, 2026 —