The 23rd annual

August 26-28, 2005

held at the

NORTHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

Saturday morning program

"Your Favorite Astro-Accessories"

This year's Saturday morning roundtable was a show-n-tell where everyone was asked to bring along a favorite observing aid or accessory. It could be a favorite eyepiece, an observing chair, a fancy flashlight, a CCD imager, or anything at all that makes your time at the telescope a little more enjoyable. Whatever it is, bring it along and tell the rest of us about it!

Here are some of the favorites...

All Day: Solar Observing

Spectacular weather gave us great view our star in white light as well as hydrogen-alpha using a variety of telescopes brought by Conjunction participants. Featuring "Barlow Bob" Godfrey's hydrogen-alpha armada of telescopes, and Sue and Alan French's huge 8-inch Astro-Physics refractor.

Saturday afternoon program

Phil Harrington: Make Your Own Observatory!

Have you ever wanted your own observatory? We all have. Phil realized his dream last summer, and told us about the planning that went into Star Watcher Observatory. He also discusses strategies for planning an observatory and review some other amateur creations.

Links listed at the end of Phil's presentation:

Bill Arnett’s directory: http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html
MAPUG directory: http://www.mapug-astronomy.net
Yahoo!group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatories•

Robert Naeye: Extrasolar Planets: Professional and Amateur Astronomers Search for New Worlds

Sky & telescope senior editor Bob Naeye gave an exceptional presentation on one of the most fascinating topics in professional astronomy today, the search for extrasolar planets.

Dr. Arthur Swedlow: Energy...What we all talk about but few have enough of... our Connection to the Universe

This presentation discussed what we can see, essentially work, and what it implies, change in energy, both down here on Earth as well as "up there!"

Saturday evening program

Professor Owen Gingerich

Professor Gingerich gave a fascinating account of his 30-year study of Nicolas Copernicus' book De revolutionibu. A groundbreaking scientific work, it revealed that we live in a sun - rather than earth - centered universe. Curious about the contention that the book went largely unread at the time, Gingerich undertook a trek around the world to hunt down the 600-odd extant first and second printings. The result is The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Copernicus - part travelogue, part science detective story, party biography of a book and its illustrious author.

Photo album of Conjunction 2005

click on thumbnails for larger image

Saturday morning program "Your Favorite Astro-Accessories" This year's Saturday morning roundtable was a show-n-tell where everyone was asked to bring along a favorite observing aid or accessory. It could be a favorite eyepiece, an observing chair, a fancy flashlight, a CCD imager, or anything at all that makes your time at the telescope a little more enjoyable. Whatever it is, bring it along and tell the rest of us about it! Here are some of the favorites...
All Day: Solar Observing Spectacular weather gave us great view our star in white light as well as hydrogen-alpha using a variety of telescopes brought by Conjunction participants. Featuring "Barlow Bob" Godfrey's hydrogen-alpha armada of telescopes, and Sue and Alan French's huge 8-inch Astro-Physics refractor.
Saturday afternoon program
Phil Harrington: Make Your Own Observatory! Have you ever wanted your own observatory? We all have. Phil realized his dream last summer, and told us about the planning that went into Star Watcher Observatory. He also discusses strategies for planning an observatory and review some other amateur creations. Links listed at the end of Phil's presentation: Bill Arnett’s directory: http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html MAPUG directory: http://www.mapug-astronomy.net Yahoo!group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatories•
Robert Naeye: Extrasolar Planets: Professional and Amateur Astronomers Search for New Worlds Sky & telescope senior editor Bob Naeye gave an exceptional presentation on one of the most fascinating topics in professional astronomy today, the search for extrasolar planets.
Dr. Arthur Swedlow: Energy...What we all talk about but few have enough of... our Connection to the Universe This presentation discussed what we can see, essentially work, and what it implies, change in energy, both down here on Earth as well as "up there!"
Saturday evening program
Professor Owen Gingerich Professor Gingerich gave a fascinating account of his 30-year study of Nicolas Copernicus' book De revolutionibu. A groundbreaking scientific work, it revealed that we live in a sun - rather than earth - centered universe. Curious about the contention that the book went largely unread at the time, Gingerich undertook a trek around the world to hunt down the 600-odd extant first and second printings. The result is The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Copernicus - part travelogue, part science detective story, party biography of a book and its illustrious author.