The New Day

As the planetarium chamber slowly darkened, lecturer Stanley Gardner glanced resignedly around the room. Fifty eager fight-grade chins were already upturned in restless anticipation of the show to begin. It would be Stanley's fourth and final show of the day to be exact, and it had been an unusually busy Saturday at the Science Museum. 'Oh well, better get to it', he thought grimly. 'Maybe one of THESE is the next Newton, you never really know.

With that, Stanley plunged the chamber into complete darkness, resulting in a gasp from the neophyte crowd. 'I see a star!', yelled one junior Kepler, as one by one the children began to note the faintly gleaming points of light in the dark vault overhead. 'Somebody pushed me!', squealed a high pitched voice over to the left - whether it was female or male Stanley didn't know or care. To silence the usual brouhaha that almost always erupted at this point, in the most authoritiative voice he could muster after the long day he began his lecture. And things went well through most of the show. He was quite aware that only a handful of kids were making any real effort to follow the various stars and other sky phenomena he was patiently explaining. But if the rest gained even an iota of curiosity about the universe, Stanley figured he'd done his job. And there was always that elusive 'fun' factor, which might lead a young person to come back if nothing else. Such was the life of the planetarium professional who dealt with student audiences on a regular basis.

Stanley was not quite through this particular lecture however when things began to go wrong. After briefly mentioning the annual Perseid meteor shower, he had turned to the southern Milky Way, where he always wrapped things up with the galactic grandeur. Suddenly a 'whoop' went up from somewhere behind his back. 'Mr Gardner - I saw one!' yelled a boy's voice from the back row. 'There's another BIG one!', it cried out again. Stanley slowly turned around in the darkness. 'Yes?' There's another big WHAT young man?', he asked impatiently - this wasn't supposed to happen, and his dinner was being delayed. 'A PERSEID METEOR sir. I saw it!', came the shrill reply. 'Now that will be enough young ..', Stanley began in a stern voice, but he cut off when he caught something out of the corner of his own eye. Was it a flash of light? Before he could react, a loud 'oooh' suddenly erupted on the other side of the room. This time Stanley whirled in time to see it too. A long graceful meteor could be seen arching down through the Great Square of Pegasus, leaving a softly glowing trail.

The increasingly roudy young crowd began applauding and gasping as suddenly, meteor after meteor began streaming across the planetarium sky. Mr. Gardner stood stunned, his lighted arrow pointer dangling where he had obliviously dropped it. Stunned, because unlike the wildly entertained children, Stanley knew that the Science Museum owned no meteor projector. Indeed, no projector existed that could reproduce the raining meteor spectacle unfolding above their wondering, upturned faces. As Stanley stood transfixed , he slowly became aware that the excited kids had now begun whispering about something else.

Then he saw it too, the streaming meteors had begun fading into a subtly growing light in the dome's eastern sky. By this time his mind had begun reeling, and a dizziness was overtaking him. The kids giggled as a cool, fragrant breeze began blowing into their faces. A chorus of crickets chirping could now be heard, giving way to the faint but unmistakable sound of a distant cock crowing. All at once a blinding ray of light pierced the eastern horizon, brighter than a thousand simulated planetarium suns. A few fluffy white clouds appeared, floating lazily into the rapidly bluing sky.

And as the children happily burbled on, Mr Stanley Gardner, planetarium professional, settled down at last into a comfortable empty chair and waited breathlessly to see what the New Day would bring.

The Night Before Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas
And under the dome
Not one star was shining
Not even at home

The stockings were hung
Hoping someone would send
A replacement star bulb
So that darkness would end!

But in my kerchief
So regretful you see
Finally settled in bed
Without one L E D

When up on the dometop
There arose such an OOOF
I stumbled outside
There's some guy on the roof!

The crest of the dome
Slowly groaned neath his weight
And the new fallen snow
Soon gave way - not so great!

But he slid down the sides
And went straight to his work
My projector he opened
Wait, who is this jerk?!

But he laughed and assured me
That he was no ringer
And then Stars, how they stiired me
He'd put in a Stinger!!

After stockings were filled
Then he fingered his nose
And he knew I was thrilled
As up the domeside he rose!

But I heard him exclaim
Now believe me, ol gare
Merry Christmas, and look!
Yes, he left me some spares

A Christmas Gare-Ol

A Christmas Gare-ol

Bah HUMSPITZ screeched Gares-a-Geezer Scrooge - it must be distinctly understood that this makes a good story, but is it true? No. Gares-a-geezer Scrooge ran the only Planetarium in OLDE LONDON TOWNE, but attendance had plummeted since Scrooge had installed a drive-through window for carriages to 'improve cash flow'. BaH HUM ZEISS I tell ye! Scrooge yelled at Bob Crunchit, Scrooge's hapless young apprentrice - no-one knew what a 'prentice' was exactly, though clearly Bob was one. I suppose you want ALL DAY off for Christmas! Bob desperately needed a day off from the Planetarium. Scrooge was such a miserly planetarium owner, he had cut back on stars, and Bob had eye strain

trying to point out to patrons the Three Sisters, and the No-Longer-Supersized Dipper. YOU BETCHA! Bob shouted as he ran out, narrowly dodging the rather imposing 10 foot spectre rising up out of Scrooges ancient OhNonos projector. Scrooooge! bellowed the ghost.... you've pawned Orions BELT haven't you!?... The miserly miser winced and tried to hit the dimmers, but they didn't work on the ghost of old Barley, Scrooge's long dead partner (he had been long dead, although he was also long, if you see what I mean). He doesn't have any PANTS, why's he need a BELT? countered the witty miser... but to his dismay Barley's unamused ghost (the worst kind) advanced undimmed, aiming a ghastly arrow pointer Scrooges way.... You will be visited by Three More Ghosts ... and all at once, since this website doesn't have much space. Repent my old partner! And stop overcharging in Ye Olde Gift Shop!!! With this final warning Barley vanished, to be replaced round the dome by three new spectres.

I AM THE GHOST of planetariums past! intoned the first, a dumbbell shaped apparation who lumbered forward as best he could towards Scrooge... Less Lasers, more Science!! the ghost demanded, tweaking the miser's nose as he vanished. I AM THE GHOST of planetariums present! squeaked the second, a round ball-like spirit who rolled up against Scrooge's trouser leg.. I am Globo-Whatever-Star-Stuffer, and you need less stars, more VIDEOS! Scrooge winced once more but was silently agreeing to cut even more constellations when the mysterious sphere vanished - now a third dread glimmer stood before him. I AM THE GHOST of planetariums future! I am nothingness, for in the future who needs planetariums.. project yer fake stars on Facebook and forget them! .. and he was gone.

But Scrooge suddenly saw the error in his ways.. he cancelled his lasers and movies, turned on ALL his stars again and repented, vowing to stay open for all Londoners to appreciate heaven's bounty. And Bob Crunchit returned to work the day after Christmas and resumed showing the public all Seven Sisters, Orion's belt, and even Leo Minor. And so, as his skinny son Tiny Slim was fond of saying.. may the stars bless us .. may the stars bless us

EVERYONE!

Sometimes the Dream

Sometimes we have the Dream. And sometimes the Dream has Us

Photography is one of those dreams many people seem to have. I think like other passions, its good to examine from whence it comes .. what is the wellspring that is inside that drives it. Some dreams are accomplished, then we can rest. Maybe your portraits were like that - unfinished business that is now complete. I know playing live music and writing music was like that for me. Traveling places - climbing mountains .. we do it till its done, then we can be content. We see to make it a lively would mean to take wedding photos endlessly, or to play bars the rest of our lives. Or to give mountain climbing lessons. We have the dream. We come to terms with it eventually. If we do not, we have regrets, and no one should have regrets. I vow to not have regrets.

But it begins to seem to me there is another category entirely. We dont have a dream .. A dream has US ... and it wont let us go. Thats what writing, planetariums, and some of the music I did began to look like. Maybe your photography is like this. It wont be content .. the tail wont stop wagging on the dog. Im not sure it wants to be discovered or to make it big ... Im not sure what it wants .. but it keeps knocking on the door . beckoning .. The only way to figure out what IT wants, since the dream has US, is to figure out what drives it. Where it comes from. Why this wellspring never runs dry . Again though, to ignore it is the road to regret.

Seems like when we have the dream, we can either achieve it, or at least come to terms with it. But when the dream has us, we are in for a more uncertain, but certainly wilder ride. We don't know where it will take us, this dream.

But I wouldn't let go.

For It Is a Feeble Light

I am taken back by the garish light of day, and i am called gare-ish ..

Routinely I run from sunlit fields into the dark of my humble planetarium chamber, and my eyes cannot relate.. I burned out another projector led bulb today .. I come from light into eternal night and i cannot see my stars.. so I goose my projector up and up and up till i burn out the bulb

for it is a feeble light. that light of the stars

the past week without sleep have i been, yet the stars were absent .. luna held sway, bathing my victorian house in fitful pale illumination thru my floor to ceiling wavy glass windows.

even then the feeble light of the stars was hindered.

and thus it is ever so in my own star theater .. i must camp there in the garish light of day for 30 minutes if I am not to burn out a bulb until i can see that feeble light

that feeble light of grandeur . how we take for granted the night vision

and little realize that our eyes mostly are attuned to the grandiose lights of broadway .. the strip in vegas ... walmart in gallatin

how little we realize how quickly we miss that feeble light that is eternity. g

Public outreach is so important to us all: afterall, todays' children are tomorrows architects of the future.
Public outreach is so important to us all: afterall, todays' children are tomorrows architects of the future.
Public outreach is so important to us all: afterall, todays' children are tomorrows architects of the future. by Owen Phairis aka Professor Fantastic

This is going to become the HPA Mantra going forward, with full quote credit to Prof. Fantastic. It hit home that the future is in giving, not hoarding, in a recent incident I have captured with the following true story from 2 weeks ago!

I was squirming in Church two Sundays ago. The topic was money .. giving .. and I knew I had issues. Who doesn't? Alot of people don't. But apparently far more do. Like me. The pastor, an eloquent imposing man over 6 foot 4 in height, had implored the congregation that by giving you received more than you could imagine. A special envelope was included in the program. Now I give a 25 dollar check each and every Sunday. I recently completed a 2 year pledge to help build several new campus childrens centers. That was expected. But this was beyond. I fidgeted... finally with a supreme shrug, not believing a word of it, I forced myself to remove my wallet, take out my last bill, a 10, and put it in the envelope. I just made the plate as it went round. I left church vaguely thinking maybe I should be more cynical.

Two days later Im working at my Sprint Store. Over 5 years I cannot but help size customers up - form judgements that are sometimes spot on, sometimes grossly mistaken or unfair. I do not let this affect my job performance, but its a human thing I tell myself. In hobbled a little old man - with an oxygen tank.. he slowly plodded towards me and I saw that I needed to help him. No hiding in the backroom, no putting him on the list and hoping someone else would get him. I had him. He literally had to gather breath before he could speak .. he needed another phone activated, his ancient cellphone wouldnt work anymore, almost like his body I couldnt help thinking .. as I put onto his line his equally ancient spare phone, he smiled at me .. a crooked smile. I told him about new phones, I couldnt be sure he heard me. But as he slowly began to leave, he held out an almost clawlike, limp hand to shake mine. I forced myself to shake it, and helped him to the door. And resumed trying to make money, my way..

After he had left I returned to my station, and before I could wait on the next customer, I noticed something crumpled up beside my keyboard. It was a ball of paper, or something.... Picking it up, I unwrapped it..

It was a 10 dollar bill.

Had the old man tipped me? Tips were unheard of in my line of work. No I came to realize .. the 10 I had given came back to me.. in a way not only proving the point, but in a way I would examine my preconceived notions about alot of others things too. And alot of other people.

I put the 10 back in the plate last Sunday. Without a single regret. g

the birth of Cakebox Productions

How did I get interested in Home Planetariums? With a cakebox ..

In 1967 on Holly Court in Villa Park, outside Chicago, I took a cakebox from the old Topps Department store up on North Avenue and punched star holes into it. Then I took a flashlight bulb on a board, hooked it up to 2 D cell batteries, and carried this contraption to my friend Alan's house.

In a darkened bedroom, Alan first said 'I see nothing'... After fiddling with the wires however, Alan then proclaimed ... I SEE STARS! I was hooked for life but this interest lay dormant until the 90s, when I purchased a Dick Emmons starglobe and HPA was born.

A recreation of that first cakebox may be seen on HPAs website www.planetariumsathome.com

Traction

Traction

I keep thinking of certain famous bands I used to read about - before a long tour, they'd rehearse just like the real thing .. they'd play full sets, full energy, bring in people (like movie test screenings).. full lights .. effects... sleep in hotels (like NFL football teams do even at home before games) ...

Theyd be like a car revving at floored speed, but with the rear wheels lifted off the ground

So when the very first people came to see them for real .. it wouldnt be like they were starting out .. it would be like they were already in mid tour glory .. and people would assume this .. they would wonder .. wow.. where did all this come from.. it must have always been here!

When those rear wheels hit the pavement for whatever we do .. Im thinking it will be like that for us ... wow look at this planetarium museum .. look at this thing this guy has on his farm .. its been here for YEARS ..

before it finally got TRACTION .

The Bygone Parade

The Bygone Brigade

Theaters and Popcorn Machines. Tessla Coils and Waffle Irons .. what do they have to do with Planetariums? Everything and nothing... they do far different things, or do they? Picture a fantasy parade .. all of humanity's creations perhaps marching down Pasadena Blvd .. the Rose Parade of Progress.. there are people in the crowd that appreciate the basics .. they applaud Alec ... Alec-tricity... they applaud Steam.. and King Coal .. and Iron and the older crowd (much older) digs Bronze .. the Romans are out in force for Marble.. why arent marbles made of marble, or were they? In our parade of the Progress. many in the crowd squeal approval for Henry Ford.. Thomas Edison .. Einstein .. Michelangelo . All inventions parade down the boulevard, but there are a few in the huddled masses that look for stranger marchers ... here they come! Dumb-bell shaped Star Machines! They roll on carriages, they lead a strange menagerie of zoolike machines that most people know but few .. appreciate ... Carmel Apple makers .. Sno Coners.. Cotton Candy Blowers .. and here come the carnival rides ... A Tilt a Whirl rolls by .. Ferris Wheels also careen down the boulevard .. and bringing up the rear a literal zoo of yard sale refugees... Wood burning kits .. Bedazzlers .. a Slide Rule Marching Band, followed closely by a band of all the instruments nobody plays .. Bass Flutes and Clarinets .. Saxophones and Sousaphones, neither of which make calls as phones normally do .. And so the parade passes .. the icons of progress .. the staples of every era of life .. and lastly the bygone brigade.. planetariums .. phone booths .. ringer washers .. hand cranked pencil sharpeners .. model trains of all gauges

At last the Icons and the Bygones have passed .. the crowd fills the streets behind it as it passes .. wondering what next will join the neverending march. And wondering what is now among us that we cant see .. we take for granted .. that tomorrow will suddenly turn charming, and join the Brigade.

Little Fires Burning in the Night

Little Fires Burning in the Night

Home Planetariums as we have defined it, is almost as if we havent defined it, thats why I think we see so many posts on so many related topics. Most other areas are sharply focused on one thing - even our other projection stellarium folks, while sharing our diversity for domes, are very focused on only one type of delivery system, and they have little history to draw from. The observatory folks have also this diversity of buildings, but add in a diversity of instruments, yet the instruments are not the focal point. We on the other hand have as many focal points as there are stars in the sky. I believe this movement we have started has no end, because it has such an incredibly diverse base. And as time passes, more and more commercial machines become available! Home built machines will never repeat themselves. There will always be toys coming out that can be brought past the toy stage. And the buildings, domes, and presentations will never end, I've spent much of my time trying to get the music end of things more creative - not content to put on 'a record', I feel this is a major area (with people like George) that other creative endeavors can be involved - yes we can end up on youtube and myspace and facebook .. So we are like a United Nations.. with as many outlets as these massive deathstars .. we add a lense to each outlet, each possibility, and bring it into focus.

Its ironic that Home Planetariums mirror in analogy these actual beasts. Perhaps amongst the stars of our multi-faceted interests, we the people are the Milky Way flowing through them, the pathway of souls. The campfires .. I've often thought of us that way.. little fires burning in the night. gare

Institutions Come in All Sizes

We think of institutions as marbled edifices, wizened societies of distinguished board members wielding trust funds and vast budgets.. but it need not be so! We can become our own institution .. for what is it really but some seat of activity, learning, enthusiasm, or enduring force. We can be that .. you can create a theater, a visitors center, a gathering place, and over time if you believe in it, it becomes an institution. I have done that with HPA and Sumner Skies Planetarium, even on such a tiny scale as it may seem presumptious .. but consider

we are listed in the IPS guide - twice

we have a backlog of newsletters

we have contacts in the industry and past

we are HERE today ..

and perhaps most importantly, as I think any institution would agree, our best days are ahead of us .. yet to come .. we have only scraped the surface of not only our fellow enthusiasts but the public at large.

Become an institution if you can. And you can. Give yourself a name, and open your doors.

And as time goes on, whether you grow in size or numbers (and you will if you will it), you will still grow in gravitas. In experience, in legacy, and in memory.

You will be an institution.

Its Ok to build a Halfway House

Something has struck me about planetariums, when you go to build your own, the theater is daunting. We start out wanting to recreate that 'surrounded by the starry heavens' experience, but soon learn an even modest dome is well .. celestial in size. But do we always have to build the whole dome? How good really is our peripheral vision - we cant really SEE the whole vault of heaven all at once usually.

There is a solution .. for those of limited space, or budget . build a half dome. Like the Renwalls Cosmorama of old, can the projector not turn and provide differing directional views on a half dome surface? Suddenly building requires alot less ..

Put your projector on a turntable .. seat your audience all in one direction just like the tilt dome big boys do .. and have at it.

Full dome of course will always be special. But you can build a halfway house for alot less and reap most of the same benefits ..

and isnt getting there, as always .. half the fun?

Perpetual Change

There may be an important difference between a public professional planetarium and a home planetarium - in the former, while of course up to date equipment and varying programs are a necessity, it is still a production space, a place of business, meant to put through the maximum possible people or patrons.

Not so the private planetarium.

While patrons may be a goal, and they surely add atmosphere and purpose, the private home planetarium may thrive more on perpetual change. We are hobbiests and dreamers as much as educators and showmen. Therefore a static theater can become boring.. sitting there 'in case' the phone rings and a group wants to come out.

To me, the home planetarium has to constantly shift - the configuration, even the instrument. What Mr or Ms random viewer sees may have been in the dome a year, or less than a day .. its this endless fascination, this tinkering and building, that keeps the pursuit alive for us.

The Chicken or the Egg?

There is a very interesting approach to how planetariums come to be.

The chicken or the egg, in this case, being the support stand/console/et all vs the starball/cylinder/dodec/lunch pail .. Which comes first?

In my current mystery project, the stand came first, found at goodwill. In the case we see here, the stand is to accomodate a waiting star mechanism. Owen found a chicken for his egg .. I started with the chicken and then needed an egg ... Im getting hungry for breakfast! Finding this stand, moved this mystery project to the forefront - the personality of the machine in this case would flow literally, from the ground up. Naturally, this got the ball rolling and I moved it to the head of my project list.

The star mechanism is easy to put off till last since if you are building it, it will take the most time and care. If you collected one fully formed though, it is easier to get this first. Myself, I cannot see putting in the hours to create a starball without having the mounting first, so I can test it as I go, see the sky being born before my very eyes etc .

So which comes first? Well it depends I guess! gare

thoughts on Owens Planetarium Museum

HPA said DREAM. Owen said DREAM BIG .. indeed

Yes Im going to have to add a BIG to my own DREAM sign (seen on planetariumsathome.com).. i noticed also the new Planetarium Network picked up on the dream theme as well.

I will tell you this. Seeing the emmons projector gives me a thrill every time I visit the museum website, which is a couple times a week to marvel.

This entry is being written the day after Obama was sworn in, hence the Lincoln references. HPA is delighted and honored to have two quotes on the Museum website.

But seeing my two quotes as well.. Im done.. no more quotes .. but to me.. if I could have my wish.. my dream .. that those words might live on for people past my lifetime.. equipment .. stuff... gets scattered over time . .. but words can live forever. I was reminded of this watched the inauguration festivities, which recalled my own visits to the Lincoln Memorial. The statue didnt move me that much.... his WORDS carved in marble were forever though... bind up the nations wounds... and the war came . with charity towards all .. in our own little way, i hope someday people are researching us.. collections may be dispersed. the ravages of time take their toll ..

but what we put into words can ring down through the ages. so to me, we must be caretakers of not only THINGS .. but THOUGHTS ... as we found the ability to express them.. or as old abe said .. as god gives us the ability to express them.

Maybe thats our REAL legacy. Maybe not. I dont know. but in a day yesterday looking back, looking forward. as in last weeks looking from the back room to the show room.. these thoughts have been on my mind. HPA has been a forum for these kind of thoughts. But never have they had such a stage as the Museum.

g

From the Backroom To The Showroom

From the Backroom to the Showroom

All my life i was a backroom guy .. hidden back behind the water cooler and the coffee machine - there i was .. see me! back behind those cardboard boxes ... and happy to be there .. i would balance your reports .. i would gopher your shipments... i would manage 20 professionals as long as we were doing backroom transactions ...

then it changed for me .. i was forced to go into sales... and backroom gary was facing JANE AND JOHN Q PUBLIC and they were buying but they werent always amused.

and i became FRONT ROOM gary. and i won awards.. trips to hawaii.. video projectors .. i found my background drive worked in the front room too .. the best of both worlds..

you see i could be that green shade accountant.. that totally committed faceless machine ..

and i could be a huckster .. a hawker .. a salesman .. but with empathy and humanity ..and believe me its made me alot of money

and then i found my secret passion was portraying the stars... and i went through the VERY SAME CYCLE that i had in my professional career .. and to kickstart it all i went back to the same villa park il neighborhoods.. the same early friends. the same memories .. passions ..

and i found myself on the same path .. backroom for soooooo long ... acquiring.. lusting.. building .. collecting.. acquiring..

but then i saw it

i saw it

like my career.. i had been trained .. gandalf told merry and pippin and frodo and sam much the same when they asked ... how shall we save the shire? gandalf said .. thats what you have been trained for

so owen and me. maybe you? weve been trained in the backroom .. but for a larger purpose ..

alot of planetarium pros no doubt have followed some of this .. some to the fore.. some remain in the back

but WE ARE PIONEERS .. we arent taking jobs at establishments

we are GOOD ANCESTORS .. blazing trails. we are .. if we but see it

and so we have been in the backroom... i was until recently

we move to the showroom . it doesnt mean we have to stop what we were about

but we need to see the expressions on kids faces

because in the end .. we might remember those more... we might.... gare

HPA Quote

From the optical wizardries of industrial giants to your corner hardware store - from scientific legends to enthusiasts tinkering in garages and barns .. these worlds meet, mingle, and all share one common purpose . the stars.