The Mount I Built, At Stellafane

                               

So here is the cute little Alt-Az mount I built out of wood and brought to Stellafane for judging.  I did not place in the judging because there were so many incredibly clever devices up for judging this year.  The heart and soul of Stellafane is all the telescopes and accessories and mirrors and lenses that amateurs have built and which are on display at each convention.  You can get an idea of the number of telescopes and other devices on the field which you can see behind me.  It felt like telescopes as far as the eye could see!  So the best part is not winning, and I mean that, the best part this year was all the people who came around and admired my little telescope mount and had questions about how it was built, and even a couple of people who loved it and took photographs and said they were going to build something like it.  THAT is the best thing, when someone is inspired by your work.  And the conversations all afternoon about telescope making are just wonderful.  That is what Stellafane is all about!