Our Next Club Meeting

Sunday July 13, 2025

For your meeting on July 13, our speaker is Mel Bartels. 

Mel Bartels will kick off with a fun little quiz and will then talk about:

• how it felt to discover that Integrateted Flux Nebulae (IFNs) are visual and how that led to a new telescope design and a more complete explanation for how telescopes work

• Also, he'll address new large scale objects like giant SN and OIII arcs being discovered digitally and how to see them through the eyepiece.

• the four powers of a telescope.

• what's new in telescope making.

• offer thoughts on the Dobsonian and SmartTelescope Revolutions.

• and a potential hybrid approach to observing.

The I.A.U. named asteroid 17823 Bartels in recognition of Mel's contributions to amateur astronomy. His articles about telescope making and observations have appeared in a dozen issues of Sky and Telescope magazine. He created the first popular computerized control of telescopes using stepper motors that was among the first open source software and hardware projects. Mel invented new mirror tests and pioneered telescopes using highly curved and very thin meniscus mirrors.

He uses his novel telescopes to discover extremely faint objects, recording his observations by sketching. Now retired in Central Oregon, Mel had careers in IT management and software development and architecture. He began his professional life as a trumpet player in orchestras and jazz bands - AND he holds a pilot's license

This is our monthly meeting held at Natural Lands Crow's Nest Preserve. Our meetings are open to the public and are a great way to learn more about astronomy. Our meeting starts at 6PM, but we have a social gathering from 5-6PM.  

Location: Crow's Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Rd., Elverson, PA  19520

Time: Social hour: 5-6pm, Meeting 6-8pm.

Everyone is welcome.