YouTube videos from The Portland Alt/Az Workshop 2025

[Akarsh Simha]

Hello folks

The primary focus of this list is visual observation. However, some attention should also be paid to the tools used for visual observation, namely telescopes.

For several decades now, the "Portland Alt/Az Workshop" has brought together some of the finest amateur and professional telescope makers to Portland, in-person and online, to exchange ideas on telescopes. Howard Banich was the chair of the workshop all these years. A few years ago, Mel Bartels joined as co-chair and opened up a visual observing track to the conference. I do not know of any other US event that brings visual observers and telescope makers (there is lots of overlap there) together for a focused conference on these topics.

Ever since post-COVID when the Alt/Az workshop went online and then hybrid, Howard has set up the workshop to be recorded and posted on YouTube. I wanted to share below, Howard's email of the YouTube links for this year and the listing of talks. I know this is repetitive for many of you as you are also on the Alt/Az workshop threads or OregonScopeWerks or such, but there are some who this information will benefit.

Ever since I first visited the workshop in 2019 after learning about it from Howard, I have had my mind blown year-after-year in the innovations that come from this workshop and have become an ardent fan. I would certainly say it has had a huge impact on me being able to get my 28-inch off the ground.

At the end of the workshop this year, Howard announced that Rob Brown and Robert Asumendi will be the new co-chairs of the workshop and perhaps it would be renamed to the "Oregon Telescope Conference" (hope I got that right).

I'll be watching the many talks I missed due to scheduling conflicts eventually. Also don't miss the "Powered Wheelbarrow Handles" talk.

Thanks to Howard and Mel for bringing this wonderful contribution to the community for all these years!

Clear Skies

Akarsh

Friday, October 10, 2025 – YouTube link   https://youtu.be/esZTLkRCBvs

4:55 pm - Welcome to Portland XVIII (start of Zoom meeting for day 1) – Howard Banich

5:00 pm - Speckle interferometry discovery of new binaries and triple stars – Russ Genet

6:00 pm – Using AI to Aid in Telescope Mirror Making – Tom Otvos

6:30 pm - End of day 1 wrap up – Howard Banich

 

Saturday morning, October 11, 2025 – YouTube link   https://youtu.be/jhquSwyqjAA

9:25 am - Welcome to Portland XVIII (start of Zoom meeting for day 2) – Howard Banich

9:30 am – Flipping the Bird: How I converted two hobby killers into killer instruments – Rob Brown

10:30 am – Digital Finders and their impact on visual observing - Keith Venables

11:30 am – 20-inch ball scope - Pierre Lemay

 

Saturday afternoon, October 11, 2025 – YouTube link   https://youtu.be/jhquSwyqjAA

1:30 pm - How to find an observing location - Lauren Wingert 

2:30 pm – International collaboration discovering faint, large-scale objects – Tim Schaeffer, Carl Björk and Steeve Body

3:45 pm – Adaption to Direct Drive on a 24-inch Cassegrain – Bruce Howard

4:45 pm – 21 ways to find an object – Lauren Wingert 

5:45 pm – 8-inch binocular telescope – Robert Asumendi

6:15 pm – End of day 2 wrap up – Howard Banich

6:20 pm – BBQ dinner (for in-person attendees)

 

Sunday all day, October 12, 2025 – YouTube Link   https://youtu.be/762ZsgncBgo

9:25 am - Welcome to Portland XVIII (start of Zoom meeting for day 3) – Howard Banich

10:30 am – Binosoar – Bob Bjornstedt

11:30 am – Drawing in the Digital Age – Mel Bartels

12:00 pm - Meniscus mirror Pusher, and night vision hydrogen-alpha sketches - Howard Banich

1:30 pm – 3D Printing Telescopes – Jonathan Kissner

2:30 pm – Powered Wheelbarrow Handles – Bhavesh Parekh, Dave Kasnick, and Craig Sterrett

4:45 pm – SiTech SiPi - Dan Gray and Taj Wurl-Koth

5:45 pm - 20-inch ball scope shelter - Pierre Lemay

6:30 pm - My Favorite Sketches – Howard Banich

6:30 pm – Workshop wrap up – Howard Banich

[Rod Brown]

I finished watching all of these recordings. Great stuff there. Thanks to all the presenters and especially to Howard for making the videos available for those of us who did not attend live. 

Rod

On Oct 15, 2025, at 12:05 AM, Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:



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