July 12-13, 2013 NORTHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Program Observing Info Directions Current weather Registration Coordinators Past Conjunctions T-Shirts Accommodations Home

 

Saturday morning program 9 AM The morning kicks off with a welcome over coffee and donuts at the Northfield Mountain Environmental Center.  The Conjunction's Swap Table, where astronomical goodies are bought and sold all day long also opens at 9. 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM “The K20 Project: Building a Telescope and More!” by Kevin Collins.   Kevin, president of the Amherst Area Amateur Astronomers Association will talk about the design and construction of his 20-inch truss tube Dobsonian telescope.  The presentation will include construction photos and resources for those thinking about building their own telescope.  Kevin also will discuss the satisfaction of sharing this project with his brother and father.  Bring your questions about telescope making. All Day: Conjunction Solar Star Party "Barlow Bob" Godfrey and friends will treat us to spectacular close-up views of the sun through specially filtered telescopes. Saturday afternoon program 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM "The Integration of the Maksutov Telescope Design into the Realm of Amateur Telescope Making" by Richard Sanderson, Conjunction Coordinator and Curator of Physical Science at the Springfield (MA) Science Museum. "The REAL Star of Your Birth" by Jack Megas, Conjunction Coordinator and Planetarium Educator, and Kevin Kopchynski, Astronomy Educator and Planetarium Producer. Learn about your own personal star in the cosmos by providing your birthday when you register.   "The Conjunction at 30: A Look at Its Origins and Future" by the Conjunction Coordinators. During this round-table style presentation, each of the coordinators will talk about the Conjunction and its history and meaning, as well as the future of amateur astronomy. OUTDOOR DINNER - A complete hot and cold buffet-style dinner will be available beginning at approximately 6 PM.  Last-minute registrants must contact Dave Gallup at (413) 525-4697. Saturday evening address 7:30 PM "The Mysteries of the Sun's Heartbeat"  Bob Berman Bob Berman will offer his favorite little-known realities about our nearest star.  He will discuss how the Sun affects health and technology, and how it will dictate our future with dramatic consequences far sooner than many people realize.  Berman will finish with a look ahead to the most spectacular astronomical events of the next decade, all of which - eclipses, comets (especially Comet ISON) and the aurora - are created or sculpted by the Sun.   Bob Berman is the author of nine books.  For the past twenty years, he has been the Astronomy Editor of the "Old Farmer's Almanac," a Contributing Editor and Columnist for "Astronomy Magazine" (formerly with "Discover") and has appeared on such TV shows as "Late Night With David Letterman."

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