 |
| Drill Bit/Needle Sizes mag hole size bit number 0-1 .076 - .089 48 - 45 1-0 .046 - .063 57 - 55 2-1 .040 - .033 68 - 60 3-2 .028 - .025 71 - 70 4-3 .0225 - .020 76 - 72 5 .0125 80 |
 |
| The Home Planetarium Association Newsletter |
 |
| Lense your Star pinholes The 9mm by 265mm lense sold by Anchor Optics is currently the best lense for pinhole stars, provide these for at least your 1st magntitudes for best results! |
| How Many Stars? Mag Number -27 1 (the big yellow one) 1 20 2 58 3 82 4 530 5 1600 6 4800 |
| mrgare5050@hotmail.com |
| The View From Gallatin The dangers of spending two years bulding a visitors center to accompany my home planetarium theater (which took 4 years) were late in occurring to me. What if Big Red, my new fake 12 inch refractor exhibit (see Exhibit Yourself below) made a more lasting impression than my stars? What if I got so absorbed building a museum, I FORGOT about my stars? Ah, I tell myself, I needed a place to split up groups, I am reliving my museum-blissful youth, I can spend a year here, a year there, and balance will be achieved! On the other hand, in addition to perpetually wanting a bigger dome, now I'll also constantly want to 'add a wing' etc. Oh well, though its never really away, the HPA Newsletter is back! This is where we like to ..... Speak the Words! Your contacting us is personally very exciting, as I know your moniker quite well. I have been using Observatory Central and HPA extensively for the past 3 years, not only for our current Reclaim Project but a previous planetarium art/text project and a future work using spherical mirror projection. Kyoung Kim, www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/starscape-enterprise-diy-planetarium-reused-objects.php Yes, it is very interesting to read about the development of your group and I wish you alot of ongoing success. I am actually not very skilled technical stuff, but I know two persons here in Germany who are deeply involved in such constructions. It is a pleasure for me to support your activities by popularising them on my website Emil Khalisi, http://www.planetariusclub.org/ |
| Tranquility by April Evelyn In the peace of the night I often steal a few moments of tranquility on my porch. I listen for the occasional humming bird buzzing nearby by day, and gaze at the beautiful glistening stars by night. The mystery and beauty of this vast galaxy and its wonders are for us to ponder and take pleasure in. Here is a place where the tribulation of life seem so trivial in the enormity of the heavens and stars. I am at peace. I asked April Evelyn for something 'vaguely spacey' and received this wonderful summation of what I feel when I substitute 'porch' for 'star theater'. We speak of education in the planetarium, of inspiration even. But perhaps we should also speak of peace. Heart's rest. A refuge strong. |
| Starball Size Fair 10 inch globe Good 12 inch Better 16 inch Best 20+ inch |
| Light Source for starballs Good 2.47 Volt Flashlight Better Minimag LED Best Stinger Streamlight LED |
| Now Set Sail "Happy holidays, and I'll try to be back sooner next year", I said last year about this time. And another year passes. I think I have a plan going forward however, 4 page newsletters in print (by request), this online excerpted newsletter with highlights and the general theme, and all the other things HPA pursues out of pure love for Home Planetariums. I just can't give up the paper newsletter though, its my time honored format and has a special feeling! Maybe Issue 21 wont be so far off. Let's wish upon a star shall we? Now... which one? |
| Institutionalize by Lynn Teague We've all heard the old saying.. whether its a million dollar shortstop, the orchestra conductor of 30 years, or the guy who mops the floor for time immemorial... they're an institution. But how the word has changed.. museums are on thing, but its not the Smithsonian Museum, its the Smithsonian Institution. Colleges, Universities, they are ongoing institutions of higher learning, not fixed in a point of time, but preserving and growing at the same time. But theres a dark side..we placed him in an institution... A dead end. So which is it? What do you want to be with your planetarium? A hobby maybe, thats just you and invited guests - private. A shrine? Thats a static display with no living parts. A business? That invokes endless repetition of a formula designed to milk dollars. No I say, be the good kin of institution! Be the kind that has both ivy on the walls and children running in the doors. The kind that has generated lasting memories, and is planning future ones as well. One that has annual records on the shelf going back decades and also exciting visions to come. One that shares a legacy of joy, learning, and great times will go a long way towards your own satisfaction when you're hopefully rocking on that porch some day. Knowing you were involved. Knowing you were there. Knowing you were an institution. Lynn Teague is a free lance writer living near Chicago ... |
| Highly Quotable I was lamenting the other day that literally years were going by as I labored on my planetarium and this passion in general .. I could see statements I made last year at this time that predicted far greater things than what actually had occurred ... it seems this is common in any pursuit .. We've Sounds like Gare-Town will never be complete, much like the Planetarium Museum. There's always one more project to complete, one more projector to get, one more mountain to climb, or in your case perhaps one more lean-to to build. I think we may be too close to our goals and lose sight of them - the can't see the forest for the trees syndrome. Our goals are set high to be sure and are noble indeed, but perhaps its time for us to reconsider where we want this adventure to take us, and take the time to rejoice in our accomplishments. Owen Phairius Goals have to be approached with thoughtful realism. What comes first? Spouse, children, food, clothing, shelter. THEN .. time for self. It is our hobbies and outside interests that make us the people we are. If you're able to find some time for yourself at least weekly, you are doing well. The magic is getting it done amid all the other things that are logically more important .. Moon Magic Great to see you're publishing again! Ron Walker |
 |
| Objects to be used in the Dark can be of fantastic and unlikely shape and hue, for they aren't really there anymore when they open their portals onto infinity |
| All my life I had dreamed of it, but it was absurd - nobody had the stars in their garage, their basement, their barn. But people do. Now I do too, and so can you. Dream. Dream BIG |
| The HPA Philosophy: Make it don't buy it, convert it don't throw it away. Some junk is good junk. Upon dusty shelves may lurk treasures. Blessed is the messy back workroom. Its all about the gasp when someone whispers.. I see stars! |
| Ah good Professor! Its almost as if we spent so much time in the archives, we looked up one day and were amazed to find that we now WERE the archives...... |
| HPA Issues 1 - 20 available produced by Ron Walker |
| Issue 20 Online Dec 09 |
| 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! |
| 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 |
| 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 New Day |
 |
| copyright gary likert |
| all at once a blinding ray of light pierced the eastern horizon |
| a short story from Issue 1 |
| For what is a dome really but an impossibly graceful construct of curved nothingness - it must be strong enough to hold up the bowl of night, yet it supports only the unfathomably tiny pressure of the myriad starpoints |
| How to Build a Planetarium if you build it, they just might come (eventually) |
 |
 |
|
| The HPA Cellar hey WHO SAID you could come down here! |
| DONT READ HPA CHRISTMAS STUFF till well.. Christmas!!! I'll bet you looked in the closet as a kid too! |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Home Planetarium Association is the worlds first group of folks who enjoy building and operating their planetariums at home, using the traditional pinhole projection. This includes collecting and restoring classic commercial planetarium projectors, building domes, special effects, recording soundtracks, writing shows, you name it! HPA issues a periodic newsletter (see below) and encourages everyone to own their own stars! |
|
|
| site supported by |
 |
| You can build this! Steve Smiths Cylinder |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| Issues 2 - 13 logo |
 |
 |
| the Dusty Shelf archives |
| Richard (Dick) Emmons thesis Steve Smith 70s Sky and Telescope article Steve Smiht 30's Life Magazine article Brent Abbatantuano Spitz thesis Philip Fox Adler Planetarium guidebook The Planetarium and Atmospherium by Norton Two 50's Nortons Star Atlas's Tom Thumb 30's home planetarium article Planetarian Dick Emmons Cover article (2006) Ponce de Leon Planetarian Article (Spitz A1) |
| CD containing Issues 1 - 20 of HPA Newsletter |
 |
 |
 |
| HPA donated the first and only Home Built Planetarium in the Planetarium Museum (the blue Minolta below recently appeared on the 'Black Holes' episode of House (Fox)) |
| Need a laser? They're at the hardware store! |
|
| Dream Big! |
|
 |
|
| mrgare5050@hotmail.com |
 |
 |
| your host gary likert |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Home Planetarium Association |
| HPA MISSION ... make and enjoy planeatariums at home |
 |
| Current Dome Construction |
| HPA POSTING BOARD |
| HPA SOUND ARCHIVE |
| HPA PUBLIC VENUE Expansion Underway |
| RELATED LINKS |
 |
| Current Theater Construction |
 |
 |
 |