Westport ObservatorySep 19
As we pack up for beautiful nights at the Connecticut Star Party #CSP35 this weekend, we heard we lost a long Connecticut friend from #Stellafane. Dennis Cassia, the cigar chewing smiling bald guy that met everyone at the gates passed this morning. Love to Kim and his family at this difficult time from all of us at WAS.
Westport ObservatoryAug 19, 2025

TONIGHT at 8PM!
Join us in the Westport Observatory Classroom for:
🌟 Tales from the Pink Clubhouse: Bob Meadows’ 2025 Stellafane Report! 🌟

No clouds, no scopes—just great stories from the ultimate telescope maker’s convention! https://was-ct.org/events/the-bob-meadows-annual-stellafane-report-2025/

#WestportObservatory #Stellafane #AstronomyTalk #StarPartyIndoors

Westport ObservatoryAug 6, 2025

🚨 August 19th at 8:00 PM! 🚨
Join us LIVE in the classroom (or online via YouTube & Zoom) for: Tales from the Pink Clubhouse: Bob Meadows’ 2025 Stellafane Report!

Hear firsthand stories, highlights, and surprises from the ultimate telescope maker’s convention!

📍 Westport Observatory Classroom
📺 Streaming live on YouTube and a Webinar on Zoom
🔗 https://was-ct.org/events/bob_meadows_2025/

#WestportObservatory #Stellafane #AmateurAstronomy #StarParty

Stephen SekulaAug 2, 2025

Learn about "#Astronomy without Light" from the official recording of my keynote at the 2025 #Stellafane Convention!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wBdbYmXwjFs&si=GurgypOvkU7s8i2a

#physics #astrophysics #neutrinos #cosmicrays #darkmatter

Stellafane 2025 - Keynote - Astronomy Without Light: Revealing the Unseen Universe

YouTube
Stephen SekulaJul 29, 2025
Some scenes from Breezy Hill at the #Stellafane Convention regarding the use of the beautiful Porter Observatory for solar observing in the daytime. Our sun is the first star in our lives, and being able to see the features of its outer surface (photosphere) is critical to understanding other stars in the universe.
Stephen SekulaJul 28, 2025

I had a TRANSFORMATIVE time at the #Stellafane Convention these past few days. I am back in #Sudbury now but my heart remains with the passionate community of telescope makers and astronomers I met and learned from.

I was honoured to share @snolabscience.bsky.social in keynote lectures at both the Hartness House Workshop and the Convention. Last night’s lecture in the outdoor amphitheatre realized a long-standing dream of mine and inspired my talk. Thank you, #Stellafane!

Stephen SekulaJul 26, 2025
Shout out to @WestportObservatory at #Stellafane: I am having a wonderful time learning about the Westport Astronomical Society and the observing facilities they manage and support. So happy to be able to connect with all of you IRL instead of just on the #fediverse!
steveJul 25, 2025

This answer is for Alan. After my keynote talk at the Hartness House Workshop last night, he approached me with a really interesting question. What is the total mass of the neutrinos emitted by a core-collapse supernova (CCSN)?

This is a great question and a chance to do some estimating as well as to exercise some physics. First, let’s assume we just want to add up the mass of […]

https://steve.cooleysekula.net/blog/2025/07/25/stellafane-questions-what-is-the-mass-of-all-neutrinos-from-a-core-collapse-supernova/

Show threadStephen SekulaJul 25, 2025

We had a chance to tour the Hartness House museum during lunch yesterday. It’s housed in the tunnels under the mansion/inn, built by Hartness (former governor of VT and a talented engineer and astronomer). The tunnels were home to a workshop and guest entertaining facilities, including a speakeasy. They led to Hartness’s own telescope, allowing comfortable access in the winter or any other season. They even exit to the edge of the grounds on the hill side.

#Stellafane

Show threadStephen SekulaJul 25, 2025

I was very honoured to deliver the keynote talk at the HHW last night. The questions afterward were incredible, and @jodi and I were humbled when a young member of the audience asked us to sign his copy of our dark matter textbook that he brought with him to the talk.

We went out after the workshop to enjoy clear skies on Breezy Hill, site of the convention. We marveled at the stars, the Milky Way, and satellite pollution in low Earth orbit.

#Stellafane