36 replies to this topic

[GlobularLover]

33rd Annual Northeast Astronomy Forum is all set in just under 3 weeks.

 

We are now in the homestrech and all RAC Board Members and RAC Members are doing their best to make NEAF the annual success it has been since the 1990's.  Speakers are being confirmed right now.  

 

For more information, keep hitting the NEAF page at our website:

 

https://www.neafexpo.com/

 

We are also posting updates on Facebook and Instagram:

 

https://www.facebook...100068068322209

 

https://www.instagram.com/rac_neaf/

 

 

 

[George N]

Any CN'ers going? Or are we all 'tripped out' after the eclipse?

[slavicek]

yup, just bought a ticket....

[dna.oneill]

I will be attending both NEAF and NEAIC this year. Cheers!

[blueplanetphoto]

I will be at both. See you there.

[Greg Z]

I will also be at both - really looking forward to it. 

 

Was the schedule for speakers at NEAF set? It is blacked out when I go to the site and I am trying to plan out Saturday and Sunday. 

 

https://www.neafexpo...peaker-schedule

 

Thanks,

Greg

[blueplanetphoto]

I will also be at both - really looking forward to it. 

 

Was the schedule for speakers at NEAF set? It is blacked out when I go to the site and I am trying to plan out Saturday and Sunday. 

 

https://www.neafexpo...peaker-schedule

 

Thanks,

Greg

I see that as well on the desktop. On my phone the schedule is there but the formatting is all messed up with overlaid text and basically unreadable. I do know there hasn't been as much help this year, particularly for the online work, so it's been a bit of a mess. I'm going as a first time vendor, so I hope the wheels are greased by Saturday and NEAIC also runs smoothly. I'm looking forward to it. 

[GUNER]

I'll be there both days for before opening to closing but not visible.  I work the show in the back & don't get out too much.

[djpontone]

Is the nexus gentleman paying a visit to neaf  ? Cannot find the vendor list little help  please.

[Mike Franzyshen]

Is the nexus gentleman paying a visit to neaf  ? Cannot find the vendor list little help  please.

AstroDevices is listed on the 2024 vendor list found here: https://www.neafexpo.com/  

Control-F, AstroDevices - This will search the whole page.

[Xeroid]

I hope the many NEAF attendees take plenty of photo's & post them on CN for us "lame ducks" stuck at home..ahhh maybe next year?

 

Hint: get close ups, get REALLY CLOSE!! 

[doctordub]

I plan on going!

CS

Jonathan

[Dave Mitsky]

Any CN'ers going? Or are we all 'tripped out' after the eclipse?

A friend of mine and I were planning on going together on Saturday, but he is now unable to make the 3-hour trip.  Then my wife and I were going to go but there's a funeral she needs to attend on Saturday.  So, it looks like we'll be going on Sunday instead. 

[blueplanetphoto]

I’m at Booth 118, Blue Planet Photography, The Astrophotographer’s Log Book. Stop by if you’re wandering around and say Hi.

[hopskipson]

Be there tomorrow with bells on 🤣

Hopefully the solar party is not hindered by the clouds.

[galaxyman]

Well, I've been to all of them since the very humble beginnings. I thought last year was a bit of a disappointment on vendors and the theater way too warm. This year was the first year I actually regretted doing the 2 1/2 hours drive on Saturday. Vendor turnout even worse, and again theater like an oven... where in the heck is the AC!? This was the same thought going through members of CAS who were there. As I said I've been to all of them, but this may be the last I go. Sad, for I always looked forward to this event. 

Karl

E.O.H.
 

Chesmont Astronomical Society - https://www.chesmontastro.com
Galaxy Log - www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565
The Astro Observers -https://www.youtube....K_PScnqVdnrcQHw
Galaxy Log Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/galaxylog
Waite Renegade 20” f/3.3
Orion UK 12" f/4 Dob
Bresser 8.2" f/3.9 Dob
High Point GSO 6" f/5 newt.
Astro-Tech 4” f/7 ED refractor
E.S. FirstLight 102mm f/6.47 refractor.
Celestron 10x60mm Binos
 

[galaxyman]

AstroDevices is listed on the 2024 vendor list found here: https://www.neafexpo.com/

Control-F, AstroDevices - This will search the whole page.

That list on the site is more of vendors who have been there prior years. Many were not there this year.

Karl

E.O.H.
 

Chesmont Astronomical Society - https://www.chesmontastro.com
Galaxy Log - www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565
The Astro Observers -https://www.youtube....K_PScnqVdnrcQHw
Galaxy Log Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/galaxylog
Waite Renegade 20” f/3.3
Orion UK 12" f/4 Dob
Bresser 8.2" f/3.9 Dob
High Point GSO 6" f/5 newt.
Astro-Tech 4” f/7 ED refractor
E.S. FirstLight 102mm f/6.47 refractor.

Celestron 10x60mm Binos 

[spongebob@55]

I'm looking forward to Jean Wrights presentation this afternoon.  She was excellent a few years back.

Was able to speak to a lot of OE suppliers and vendors and got some great information and hands on touch and feel.

Last years theater was an oven.  This year wasn't bad when I attended in the PM.

Its a ton of work for RAC and their volunteers and I thank them all.

SB

[Speedy1985]

Well, I've been to all of them since the very humble beginnings. I thought last year was a bit of a disappointment on vendors and the theater way too warm. This year was the first year I actually regretted doing the 2 1/2 hours drive on Saturday. Vendor turnout even worse, and again theater like an oven... where in the heck is the AC!? This was the same thought going through members of CAS who were there. As I said I've been to all of them, but this may be the last I go. Sad, for I always looked forward to this event. 

Karl

E.O.H.
 

Chesmont Astronomical Society - https://www.chesmontastro.com
Galaxy Log - www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565
The Astro Observers -https://www.youtube....K_PScnqVdnrcQHw
Galaxy Log Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/galaxylog
Waite Renegade 20” f/3.3
Orion UK 12" f/4 Dob
Bresser 8.2" f/3.9 Dob
High Point GSO 6" f/5 newt.
Astro-Tech 4” f/7 ED refractor
E.S. FirstLight 102mm f/6.47 refractor.
Celestron 10x60mm Binos
 

I've been wanting to attend it for the first time but the reports I saw last year and now yours make me glad I didn't make the drive. If I recall, the question of seeing an updated vendor list actually committed to the event has been asked a few times and I've never seen that addressed. Only that same list of those who have attended in the past. I'm sorry, but keeping that old list on the event page seems misleading to me. I'm sure the talks are nice, but if that's all it's going to amount to, perhaps it should just be presented that way. 

[Alan French]

An accurate vendor list would be nice and appreciated, but I suspect, if it even makes their list, it is a very low priority in comparison to all the other work that needs to be done to make NEAF a reality every year. 

 

It wouldn't be too much work for someone attending to create a list, just check off who's actually there. Even a list of last year's actual vendors would probably be closer to correct. 

 

Clear skies, Alan

[exhogflyer]

I went yesterday and I must say that although I had a good time ( hour and half drive for me), it was somewhat disappointing. Food "court" was a joke ( not that I planned on anything really good), turnout seemed rather spotty, and although there were quite a few vendors it seems the majority was geared towards AP. ( probably the way this hobby is trending) I was surprised that most vendors weren't actually selling product, but rather prompted you to QR code and buy online. I wish I had been able to take in some seminars but I was slightly time constrained as there was a family dinner early evening. I found out too late about the outdoor solar viewing but the line was pretty slow moving and I probably could not have participated. Like many were saying the recent eclipse may have dampened some attendance and let's face it our economy right now makes discretionary spending a little difficult for most. I will most likely attend next year if they still have it.

Gene

[RedLionNJ]

I went yesterday and I must say that although I had a good time ( hour and half drive for me), it was somewhat disappointing. Food "court" was a joke ( not that I planned on anything really good), turnout seemed rather spotty, and although there were quite a few vendors it seems the majority was geared towards AP. ( probably the way this hobby is trending) I was surprised that most vendors weren't actually selling product, but rather prompted you to QR code and buy online. I wish I had been able to take in some seminars but I was slightly time constrained as there was a family dinner early evening. I found out too late about the outdoor solar viewing but the line was pretty slow moving and I probably could not have participated. Like many were saying the recent eclipse may have dampened some attendance and let's face it our economy right now makes discretionary spending a little difficult for most. I will most likely attend next year if they still have it.

Gene

Long-time attendee here. The North American eclipse two weeks ago most definitely had a "dampening effect" on participation at NEAIC/NEAF this year.  I didn't observe the attendee aisles in the field house being busy at any time on the Saturday.

 

And it's definitely not for lack of vendors or vendor participation. Meade hasn't shown up the last couple years - not only have they gone through relative upheaval, but they just don't have anything significantly new these days to offer.

 

The show is definitely geared more toward astrophotography this year.  Both DSO and planetary.  ZWO, QHY, Player One were all present from a planetary perspective.  Smart scopes are the current darlings of several companies (notably Unistellar, Celestron and ZWO). I suspect a lot of vendors realized attendance might be down (which makes it all the more puzzling the Crowne Plaza claimed to be full) and decided to cancel between the eclipse and now.

 

Having said that, there were several really good presentations (both at the preceding NEAIC and NEAF itself) - the quality just gets better and better.

 

I'm not the gatekeeper, but judging by Saturday alone, I'd say the attendance was no more than half that of a pre-COVID Saturday.  And let me make it clear - this is no way the fault of Rockland Astronomy Society or anyone else associated with the logistics (vendors, manufacturers, etc.) of such a large-scale show. It's still the #1 in the world, attended by nearly every major manufacturer.

 

If the show continues next year, I'll be back.  And I didn't even buy anything this weekend!

 

This image was from around 1:30pm on Saturday:

 

[Ac2aj]

Wow the more I read and people I talked to it seems that Neaf was a bust this year. Camera Concepts being the biggest vendor again I'm sure was the big winner in sales again. Cloudy here so probably no solar scopes out. Glad I couldn't make it.

[Chris K]

I went on Saturday. The crowds were light, and I suspect the eclipse blew many astro budgets this year.

I don't know what happened but the first guest speaker went on way earlier than advertised. I walked into the theater and then I heard him say, "and that's my presentation".

 

I stayed put and waited for David Levy's talk. One of the reasons I went on Saturday. I really enjoyed it which helped offset the ticket, tolls, and gas.

 

The booths were largely astrophotography related—not my cup of tea.

 

The vendor list was inaccurate, I was hoping to see Lunt and Rowan.

 

I did pick up two books for buck each.

[blueplanetphoto]

As a first year vendor I have no previous experience with NEAF to compare to. But I did hear from other vendors that the eclipse caused a disruption in prep for NEAF with those vendors unable to attend because of eclipse-focused activities. And visitation down also du to eclipse travel elsewhere. I also attended NEAIC and thought it was worth the trip.

I don’t know if any CN attendees purchased my log book but I appreciated the sales and feedback and opportunities to meet other vendors in person who could be either future customers and/or help me with connections (to potential publishers, for example). I’ve been selling my log book primarily theough CN the past newrly three years and what I gained at NEAF was more than sales. So, even at a lower capacity I think it was worth it.