Farewell, RTMC

[SkyHiker]

Here's a fitting S&T farewell to the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference (RTMC) by Alex McConahay, one of the organizers: https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astrono ... expo-ends/

As he put it, the RTMC could no longer keep up with its reputation so they decided to call it a day. There are still good reasons to have a scaled down event at Camp Oakes should someone take the initiative, it will just not be comparable to what it was due to reduced interest in astronomy by the general public.

[pakarinen]

So why did they shut it down? He writes about record attendance but then says it couldn't live up to its reputation and attendance was eroding - I'm clearly missing something here. Thanks.

[Arctic]

I would GUESS that the number of folks actually making their own scopes has declined due to the proliferation of (relatively) cheap optics. Not sure, though. Maybe the organizers didn't want just another "star party", but something more unique... Sad to see it go.

[SkyHiker]

So why did they shut it down? He writes about record attendance but then says it couldn't live up to its reputation and attendance was eroding - I'm clearly missing something here. Thanks.

I think the article is pretty clear but there were several reasons not just one. Last year the YMCA reserved the memorial day time slot for a different group, as a result this year's RTMC was moved to September and was shortened from 5 to 4 days. The main vendors, Explore Scientific and Woodland Hills, stayed away. Along with the reduced attendance, income declined so it would be harder to run a full fledged event with a good presentation program. Rather than watching it peter out they decided to end it, understandably.

The DIY contributions were actually very this year so that in itself was not the reason why they closed it.

[helicon]

Too bad, it seems like the general public and kids especially are losing interested in astronomy with the proliferation of phone-staring and social networks.
Here is an article in the LA times from a few years back that highlights the decline of Meade...
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm ... story.html

But the good news is that there remains a core of dedicated amateurs...

[pakarinen]

Same thing in model railroading - aging and dying off of long time hobbyists, little new blood, exorbitant prices compared to the "Blue Box" days, people spending most free time Facebooking, etc.

Somebody made the argument that since they can get fabulous pics from the 'Net, why bother with spending dollars on AP or other equipment, bugs, cold, heat, light pollution, lack of sleep, and so on.

[allen g]

Alex now has his group meet at nightfall in Borrego Springs. Just got back - a wonderful meet - lectures and good observing. In October

[SkyHiker]

Same thing in model railroading - aging and dying off of long time hobbyists, little new blood, exorbitant prices compared to the "Blue Box" days, people spending most free time Facebooking, etc.

Somebody made the argument that since they can get fabulous pics from the 'Net, why bother with spending dollars on AP or other equipment, bugs, cold, heat, light pollution, lack of sleep, and so on.

That's probably very true. There is so much online diversion and information, why have a hobby at all? Model railroading was popular when TV was not as widespread as it is now and when the internet did not even exist. And you're right, spending hours on setting up AP equipment for images that are already plentiful online seems silly to many people. Maybe it's just for old fashioned people like me looking for some adventure at a dark site who like to experience the manual operation of equipment. It's a chance to go an a road trip, combine it with hiking so for me there 's enough appeal. I suppose the olden days of the space race were also motivating, much less stimulus these days.

[SkyHiker]

Alex now has his group meet at nightfall in Borrego Springs. Just got back - a wonderful meet - lectures and good observing. In October

That's great to hear. I just looked at the resort's site and it looks rather desert-like. The Camp Oakes YMCA seems much more accessible and in a nicer environment. No hot tubs though. Maybe I'll check it out next year.