NEAF 2010

Hi All,

Myself and Denise went on a trip to New York recently. It "just so happened" to coincide with NEAF - North East Astronomy Forum...in short, an astronomer's heaven! NEAF is held in Rockland College about 50mins drive north-west of Newark Airport. For those who have attended Astrofest in London, NEAF is in a different league altogether.
www.rocklandastronomy.com/NEAF/index.html

Below are some photos of the event:

Wide Angle Shot of the Event:
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Wide-Angle-NEAF.jpg

Orion 36inch Dob
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Orion-36inch.jpg

Astro-Physics 3600
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/AP3600.jpg

20inch Meade Max Mount
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/20inch-Mad-Max-Mount.jpg
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/20inch-Mad-Max-Mount-Price.jpg

Beautiful Telescopes from Norman Fullum
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Norman-Fullum.jpg

Photos on sale from Wally Pacaolka
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Wally-Pacaolka.jpg

Nice Observing Chairs
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Observing-Chairs.jpg

Monster from Planewave
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Planewave-Monster.jpg
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Planewave-Monster-Mirror.jpg
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Planewave-Monster-Rear.jpg

Exploradome Motors
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Dome-Rotation-Motor.jpg
www.astroshot.com/NEAF-2010/Dome-Shutter-Motor.jpg

Of course, I couldn't help myself and was "forced" to buy a few items.
* Lunt B1800 Cak module
* Exploradome Dome Rotation Motor
* Starlight Instruments 2" Dessicant Cap
* Bahtinov Mask

More photos can be seen on my Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?id=1178453295&aid=60403

Earlier in the week, we walked around the corner from the hotel to visit B+H Photo. What a camera store! Picked up a Manfrotto 410 geared head while there.

Unfortunatley, on the way back home, the flight was cancelled due to the volcano in Iceland and so we had to wait an EXTRA 10 days before we got back home on Friday morning.

Michael.

Looks excellent Michael.Great pictures. Well worth the trip I would say.
Sorry to hear you were caught by the volcano ash. I was delayed myself by a week but at least I was stuck at home and not burning up a credit card.

I'm so jealous Michael! I was there in spirit the two days......well, on the CloudyNights forum NEAF webcam stream and chat. :laugh: Wasn't on all day both days mind, I do have a life but did log on for a lot of the interviews and walkthroughs. Did you get any of the free cookies from the CloudyNights/Astronomics booth?

Did you know the Normand Fullum the maker of those beautiful wooden scopes is also the designer and builder of Orions Monster dobs and the mirrors therein. Did you get a close look at the mirror. IIRC his large mirrors are ingenious. Its basically two 1 inch thick sheets of glass with Pillars of glass fused between the two, which dramatically cuts down on the weight and cooling time. www.normandfullumtelescope.com/mirror_en.html

Its so weird that the craftsman that makes those beautiful wooden masterpieces is also the manufacturer of those huge technical masterpieces.

If I won the Eurolotto I'd be buying one of each. A 50inch Orion(Fullum) in my mansions Dobservatory and one of his 12in Wooden dobs for the Living Room....and when I was too tired to get the Cheery picker out for the 50inch

Calibos,
I wasn't aware that Norman Fullum was behind the Orion monster dobs...interesting!
The mirrors were not on display I'm afraid.

As for the volcano, there are still people stuck over there for another week ;-(

Hi Micheal,

Looks like you where in heaven. This is one event I would love to get to, the 20" meade max mount looks just amazing If I had to pick one it would be the El Capitan AP3600GTO and two 20" Planewave OTA's side by side in a big dome on a 1000 acres and not a street light or neighbors incite.Now where is that lotto ticket.

2 weeks extra in New York. I say Denise was fed up because she had 2 weeks more shopping to do:P

Carl