ATM AstroFest Activities

["M.E. Germann" <CCMEG@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>]

AstroFest Activities --

Val Germann
Central Missouri Astronomical Association

As it stands right now we will be doing the following
at AstroFest:

1) Making sure that all attendees know that we will be
making a mirror (fine-grinding & polishing + silvering);
and attempt to sign as many newcomers up as possible to
participate in this.  Have available a "mirror-making"
tip sheet, list of suppliers, and a discussion of our
"kit" idea for the first mirror.

2) Bend every effort to actually MAKE the 6-inch sphere
on Saturday but, failing that (we could break it!), have
a completed tube assembly on hand as a back-up to observe
with that night, if necessary.

3) Do visual testing of 6-inch spheres of varying wavefront
Friday and Saturday night, the general public participating.

4) Have a second grinding stand available for other pro-
fects, such as fine-grinding of a 10-incher, as we did last
year, or the aluminum disk idea!

5) Have a microscope available for examination of the
surface at various points in the process, as well as for
general education on the sizes of grits and pits.

We are certainly open to suggestions concerning what we
could do or how we might do it.  We had quite a bit of fun
doing our demonstrations last year and hope to continue them
into the future.

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