TIME magazine: These Amateur Astronomers Found Dark Sky Paradise on a Tiny Vermont Hill

For the best stargazing, some places are clearly better than others. There’s the great observatory atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 13,796 feet above sea level; there’s the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory in Chile, at a nosebleed altitude of 18,500 feet. And then there’s Stellafane, a cluster of permanent telescope observatories built near a bubble-gum pink clubhouse on Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont.

Stargazers converge on Springfield for 83rd Stellafane Convention

Stargazers and amateur telescope builders have traveled from around the world for this year's Stellafane Convention.

Founding woman of the Springfield Telescope Makers

Ron Patch tells the story of Gladys Alice Piper who was the sole founding woman member of the Springfield Telescope Makers, later known as Stellafane, at a time when women were often excluded from many activities.

Celebrate history of Stellafane

Love viewing the night sky? Wish you had a telescope? Ever heard of "Stellafane" or wondered what it actually is? Join presenters at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at the Springfield Town Library to learn about and celebrate the rich history of Stellafane presented by amateur telescope maker and Stellafane member, Rick Hunter.

Former high-level U.S. intelligence and defense officials join new UFO disclosure effort, promise major revelations

‘[We are] planning to provide never-before-released footage from real U.S. government systems—not blurry, amateur photos, but real data and real videos.’

Newsweek: The sun has gone wrong and scientists don't know why

The sun goes through 11-year cycles of solar activity. Right now should be the quietest phase of the current cycle but 4 large flares this past week included the largest since 2008. On earth, they cause geomagnetic storms that can be disruptive to radio communications and power grids and may also have some effect on weather and earthquake activity.

Partial solar eclipse over Springfield

First Congregational Church, Main Street, Springfield 
as it appeared through a dark camera filter at 2:43 pm
Photo by Edwin Fransen

At 2:43 pm, today's nationwide solar eclipse reached maximum peak in Vermont at which point the sun was 62% blocked by the moon passing in front of it. Vermont will get its turn to experience a total solar eclipse in 2024.

Safely viewing the solar eclipse

On Aug. 21, people in the United States will have a rare opportunity to see a solar eclipse. Parts of the country along a path from Lincoln City, Ore., to Charleston, S.C., will experience the darkness of a total eclipse. In Vermont, we will experience about 60 percent solar coverage.

Impending solar eclipse drives intense local interest

The impending solar eclipse seems to be taking the nation by storm, and it’s no less evident in southern Vermont than in pop culture and national news. As solar mania sweeps the nation, local libraries are struggling to keep solar viewers on their shelves.

A weekend on Breezy Hill

The Springfield Telescope Makers held the 82nd annual Stellafane Convention this past weekend, with several hundred amateurs gathering on Breezy Hill in for a weekend of presentations, telescope making, and of course, deep-sky observing.

Stellafane celebrates telescope-making and astronomy

Billed as the oldest and best star party in the world, the 82nd Stellafane Convention brought hundreds of amateur telescope makers and night-sky enthusiasts to Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vt., last week.

(Click on center of shirt above for a video tour by James Steamer)

Magnesium to make depression drugs obsolete?

A new study completed by researchers at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine finds the mineral magnesium safer, more affordable and more effective than prescription SSRIs.

Robotics club holds event ahead of national competition

Eight-year-old Summer Lee of Springfield and her brother Griffin, 7, came with their parents to Saturday’s Rogue Robots of 4-H open house hoping to build the fastest mousetrap car and acquire valuable STEM education skills.

An 'eclectic club'

Nearly 1,000 amateur telescope makers gathered on Thursday, Aug. 4 in Springfield for the launch of the three-day, 81st annual Stellafane Convention.

Video: Stellafane 2016

Reach for the Stars: All the sky's a stage for summer stargazing

While the starry skies are yours to enjoy on any clear night, there are also a number of organized stargazing activities in the area throughout the summer.

Good, Bad and Indifferent Inventions from 1866

A Springfield, Vermont inventer devised this machine.

HCRS still in the red

Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont posted a net loss of $638,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, bringing the agency’s volume of red ink to more than $2 million over the last two years.

Union Street fifth graders tour the solar system

Two classes of fifth graders at Union Street Elementary School were waiting excitedly for their bus tour of the solar system to begin.

Meteorologist talks about ancient astronomy

VPR’s “Eye On The Sky” meteorologist Mark Breen hosts a presentation relating astronomical occurrences with human-made structures found in Ireland at Tuesday’s OSHER Life Long Learning seminar at Nolin-Murray Center in Springfield.