People where I work know I built a planetarium. They just don't know what a planetarium IS exactly. Since I work in retail, we periodically change the large vinyl displays which hang over the display cases, and I take the old ones home, reverse them, and use them in domes. This material is oil base, provides a wonderful projection surface, is actually even weatherproof - I have a theory you could use it as roofing material.
So people know - a couple of people who work where I do have attempted to mount expeditions out to SEE my planetarium, though none have gained significant momentum to actually arrive. Part of that though has been my own lack of encouragement. There is a certain tendency with home planetariums to want not want to indulge the mere idly curious public - to want to show this to people who have at least some scientific curiosity. This may be snobbery, it may be insecurity - but I'd rather show kids the stars than just show people not really interested in astronomy things they wont understand. This was perfectly demonstrated by a question I received from a co-worker yesterday.. she came up to me and as an aside asked me
did you see Haleys Comet last night in your aquarium?
Now I adored the question, in fact, that might make a great book title! Before I knew how to answer she had walked off again, leading me to wonder if this was how little the general public actually knew about astronomy (Haleys comet hasnt been seen since 1986), and an aquarium may be home to Pieces, but Cetus certainly wouldnt fit) and particular planetariums. So it seemed to demonstrate that mere curiosity seekers probably would only give my whole enterprise about five minutes of their attention before moving on to the next attraction. I could be a cynical old man too. But I did enjoy the question.
So the larger question is, should I use my creation as a mere 'sight' to be seen regardless of particular interest, or should I basically tamp down would be 'aquarium' visitors? After all, I might forget to feed the fish ...
So people know - a couple of people who work where I do have attempted to mount expeditions out to SEE my planetarium, though none have gained significant momentum to actually arrive. Part of that though has been my own lack of encouragement. There is a certain tendency with home planetariums to want not want to indulge the mere idly curious public - to want to show this to people who have at least some scientific curiosity. This may be snobbery, it may be insecurity - but I'd rather show kids the stars than just show people not really interested in astronomy things they wont understand. This was perfectly demonstrated by a question I received from a co-worker yesterday.. she came up to me and as an aside asked me
did you see Haleys Comet last night in your aquarium?
Now I adored the question, in fact, that might make a great book title! Before I knew how to answer she had walked off again, leading me to wonder if this was how little the general public actually knew about astronomy (Haleys comet hasnt been seen since 1986), and an aquarium may be home to Pieces, but Cetus certainly wouldnt fit) and particular planetariums. So it seemed to demonstrate that mere curiosity seekers probably would only give my whole enterprise about five minutes of their attention before moving on to the next attraction. I could be a cynical old man too. But I did enjoy the question.
So the larger question is, should I use my creation as a mere 'sight' to be seen regardless of particular interest, or should I basically tamp down would be 'aquarium' visitors? After all, I might forget to feed the fish ...
