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.