* The Star Machines *
* Planetarium Projector & Space Museum *
A Fascinating Collection of Planetarium Projectors
Preserving our Planetarium Past for the Future
A place to come and study the history, design, contruction and evolution of Planetarium Projectors.
Where preservation and display of historic and rare Planetarium Projectors is our goal and mission.
We buy worn out planetarium projectors in order to preserve them for the education of future generations.
Owen Phairis III: Director & Curator (909-584-8551)
Ron Walker: Director of Engineering and Preservation
Gary Likert: Director and Advisor on Home Planetariums
Steve T. Cole: Director of Scientific Displays and Exhibits
J.R. and Owen Phairis IV: Trustees and Directors of Logistics
Working on an Educational and Entertaining Planetarium Museum!
UPDATE: Considering making the Planetarium Projector Collection Available as a Traveling Science Exhibit to Planetariums and Museums across the Country!
Museums' Spitz A-1 Planetarium ProjectorMay have been used at the University of Michigian.
Museums' GOTO S-2 Planetarium ProjectorMuseums very first projector, purchased from a private party.
Museums' GOTO Mercury Planetarium ProjectorThis historic and rare projector came from Holt Planetarium located at the Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley. The projector was built in 1965 and sold to UCLA for around eight thousand dollars. In 1973 it moved to UC Berkeley where it operated until March 1st 2008 where it entertained and educated over 500,000 people before being retired, after a 35 year absence it has now been returned to Southern California and moved to the museum for display and occasional use.
Another shot of the GOTO Mercury Planetarium Projector
Museums' Spitz A3P Planetarium Projector
Originally sold to and used at the Tessman Planetarium.
Museums' Nova III Planetarium Projector
Believed to have come from a high school in Kentucky.
Museums' Spitz-NASA Apollo Program ProjectorThis one of a kind projector was built by Spitz under contract from NASA for the Apollo Space Program. The projector was computer controlled to simulate space craft movements in space and to simulate a trip to the moon. The projector was sent to MIT which in turn made the navigation computer for the Apollo Project. After the Apollo Program ended it was sent to Boston University where it served as their planetarium projector for 20 years. The projector is capable of projecting close to 3,000 stars and has a 24 inch starball which may be the largest pinhole starball ever made. This also served as the prototype for the Spitz STS planetarium projector. Due to the historical significance of this planetarium projector the museum is indeed fortunate to be able to purchase it and would like to thank Steve Pielock for his help in obtaining it.
Museums' Emmons Planetarium ProjectorThis historic and rare projector has been donated to the museum from the Home Planetarium Association. and Mr. Gary Likert. The projector was built in 1995 and features the second to the last Emmons starball ever produced. This projector will provide inspiration and serve as an excellent example of what can be done in the home by talented individuals. This machine will proudly take its place along side the commercial planetarium projectors and take its place in history as well.
Spring and Summer ads placed in: "The Great Western Observer"There are also articles on pages 16 and 31 about the Museum.
Short 60 Second Video ClipDemonstration of the movements of the Goto S-2 and Mercury Projectors.
The Growing Collection of Planetarium Projectors
A 3-D Stereo Photograph
Crossed eyed viewing - Look at left image with right eye and right image with left eye.
A third 3-D color stereo image will form in center.
MUSEUM EXHIBTS CAN INCLUDE:
- Spitz A-1 Planetarium Projector
- Spitz A3P Planetarium Projector
- Spitz A3P Planetarium Projector Operator Console
- Spitz STS Prototype Planetarium Projector
- GOTO Mercury Planetarium Projector
- GOTO S-2 Planetarium Projector
- GOTO M-1 Planetarium Projector Star Globes
- Nova III Planetarium Projector
- Homemade Emmons Planetarium Projector
- 4 inch f-15 Unitron Refractor Telescope
- 6 inch f-10 Vernon Refractor Telescope
- 6 inch f-6 Celestron Refractor Telescope
- 8 inch f-10 Meade SCT Telescope
- 8 inch f-6 Meade Newtonian Telescope
- 8 inch Homemade Heliostat
- 90mm f-10 Meade ETX Maksutov Telescope
- Conic Copernican Helio-Centric Projection Orrery
- 138 pound Museum Quality Meteorite
Member: Pacific Planetarium Association
Member: Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association
Member: Bear Valley Astronomical Association
INTERESTED in Planetarium History?
Check out these links:
INTERESTED in building your own Planetarium?
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Please click on the picture scrapbook link below for the latest updates as well as many more interesting
photographs.
Please call Owen at 909-584-8551 for more information or at: ophairis[at]hotmail.com.
Museums Historic Microphone Collection
A collection of famous and historic microphones. Included are the microphones used on the Jack Benny Show, the Red Skelton Show, All in the Family, Maude and the Flintstones. Also on display are microphones used by Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and all the great Warner Brothers cartoon characters. Part of this wonderful collection of microphones was donated to the museum by Mel Blancs' son Noel.
Museums Camera Collection
Part of the approximately 150 cameras in the museum collection. Not pictured are the 8X10 studio cameras or the 35mm movie cameras among others.
Museums Optical Research Laboratory
Museums Microscope Collection