Oregon Star Party Telescope Walkabout, 2023, conducted by Mel Bartels, images by Barbara Bajec

I attended the 1994 RTMC (Riverside Telescope Makers Conference), winning a merit award for my 20.5 inch [52cm] F4.8 computerized telescope. But I was disappointed in the lack of access and amateurs' willingness to discuss their telescopes. I came up with the idea of walking from scope to scope as a group where owners are available to talk about their scopes and answer questions. Steve Johnson from Seattle helped develop the idea. The walkabout is not about winning contents or merit awards, instead it is about learning, sharing, collaborating and celebrating amateurs and their work. We are all capable of being our own judge, evaluating for our own purposes. As Rocky in Hail Mary would say, "Good good good." The Oregon Walkabout began in the 1990s.

We remember three amateurs who are no longer with us.

I thank Ed Allen for the sound system.

We visited 10 amateurs and their scopes (along with one additional accessory that deserves its own mention). The temperature was searingly hot and quite uncomfortable. I deeply appreciate those who toughed it out. If you find mistakes or desire changes then please contact me.

In the order that we visited (which was dictated by location on the observing field):

Seth Jeleu, Lake Oswego, Oregon, 17.5 inch F4.5 with interesting use of wood and truss.

Zane Landers, Tucson, Arizona, 14.7 inch F2.9 fast portable scope.

Sasha Demenko, Vancouver, Washington, 10 inch F4.5 ballscope.

Matt Baker, Zionsville, Indiana, 12 inch F4.5 with wire spider and other features.

Mel Bartels, Sisters, Oregon, 30 inch F2.7 thin meniscus with 3-axis mount.

Dale Eason, St Paul, Minnesota, SkySolve, a camera based finder, shown by Mel Bartels.

Howard Banich, Scappoose, Oregon, 30 inch F2.7 with Night Vision.

(Richard) Miles, Olympia Washington, 16 inch F3.9 string scope.

John Angle, Granite Falls, Washington, 8 inch F4.5, beautiful wood scope.

Matt Vartanian, Portland, Oregon, 12 inch F3.9 on an equatorial platform.

Bob Bjornstedt, Scio, Oregon, 17.5 inch F4.5 binoscope.


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