Zeiss Model I Planetarium Projector
Photograph by Albert Maly-Motta
Zeiss Model I Planetarium Projector
Photograph by Charles A. Miller
Zeiss Model II Planetarium Projector
The First of the Modern Day 'dumbell' Projectors
Seen here at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC and also in the following pictures taken from original glass magic lantern slides that are part of the Planetarium Projector Museums' historical archives.
Unusual picture of the Zeiss being projected on to a screen for a backdrop of a Tv show
Recently retired Zeiss Model IV at Griffith Planetarium (photo by Owen Phairis 8/2008)
Inside of Zeiss Starball showing light source and condensers.
(photo by Albert Maly-Motta)
Old Hayden Planetarium Zeiss Projector Paper Weight and Bronze Medallion.
Spitz STP Projector at Miami (photo by Robert Cruz)
Spitz STP Projector at Miami (photo by Robert Cruz)
Owen with Novins Planetarium Director Gloria Villalobos
(Photo by J.R. Phairis)
Owen holding a Minolta Starball during disassembly August 2008
(Photo by J.R. Phairis)
Minolta Star Balls, Coordinate Projector and 2 Azimuth Projectors
This picture shows the necessary equipment for the reconstruction
The second planet cage being hoisted into position during reconstruction
Minolta under going reconstruction at the Museum
Minolta and Spitz A-1 at the Museum
Spitz A3P Planetarium Planet Projector Analogs
Museums' Goto M1 Northern Star Hemisphere 1961 Serial # 4
Museums' eleven inch Dick Emmons Starball (number 16 of 17 ever made)
Museums' Spitz-NASA Apollo Planetarium Projector Starball
Museum has 2 Conic Coperican Helio-Centric Projection Orreries
Museums' Goto Projection Orrery
Museums' Helio-centric Projection Orreries: Viewlex, Spitz, Goto, Conic
Museums' Spitz Hand Sextants (A4, A3P, A1)
Planetarium Pointers (Antique, Goto S-2, Goto Mercury, Spitz A3P, Ednalite)
Museums' Mark II Astro-Compass 1942
Museums' Motorized Sunlit World Globe of Seattle
Museums' Model Satellite
The Museum has several model Telescopes including the 200 " Hale made by Barry Crist
Some of the Museums Projectors
Stella Spitz STP Relay Racks and Analog Computer
Armand Spitz A1 Planetarium Projector
Armand Spitz A-1 Planetarium Projector
Armand Spitz A-1 Planetarium Projector Posterized
Night Time Negative Image just for FUN
Goto Mercury Planetarium Projector Collage
(Photos by Alan Gould)
Goto Mercury Planetarium Projector pictured at Holt Planetarium
Alan Gould and Owen at the projector controls at Holt Planetarium
(Photo by Ken Miller)
Mercury Projector being hoisted on to display stand at Museum
Closeup of Copernicus the Planetariums working Robot.
The robot was used as part of the Big Bear Traveling Planetarium Show and was used to entertain the audience before the start of the show which allowed time for their eyes to get dark adapted. To see the robot in action click on the above picture of the robot.
Museums' Model Nautilus Submarine with Projectors
Closeup of Nautilus inspired by Jules Verne
Museums' Radio Telescope
Owens' 3" Brass Cassegrain Telescope from the Deutsches Museum (#293 of 1500)
Owens' Four inch f-15 Refractor Telescope
Showing the Barlow lens and Daystar H-Alpha Filter for observing the Sun
Owens' 4" Refractor Telescope remounted for Solar work on a fork mount
Owens' 8" f-6 Cave Astrola Newtonian Telescope
This was Tom Caves (1923-2003) Telescope that he would take to star parties, public outreach, and demos.
Owens' 6" f-8 Celestron Refractor Telescope
Owens' Table top Meade 8" SCT Reflector Telescope
Owens' Astro-Camera for Star Trails
Owens' 8" Meade Newtonian, 6" f-10 Vernon Refractor, 8" Meade SCT, and 4" Refractor Cluster
My Dream Telescope (48" Refractor at the 1900 Paris Exposition)
Yerkes 40 inch Refractor Telescope
Image taken from an old Magic Lantern Slide in the Planetarium Museum Collection.
What astronomers thought the moonscape would look like over 100 years ago.
Image taken from an old Magic Lantern Slide in the Planetarium Museum Collection.
Such a simple picture, yet it sparks my imagination beyond belief.
Owens' Geiger Counter Collection
Owens' Neutron Dosimeter
Owen has a large collection of 3-D stereo photography cameras, books, viewers, etc.
Owen has a collection of well over 100 cameras including large format, minature negative, and movie cameras.
16mm Mitchell Movie Camera used by NASA to record the Tv images sent back from the Moon.
Owen also has a collection of old Magic Lantern Slide Projectors.
Owens Altair 8800 Computer with a nine track Kennedy Tape Drive.
Owens IBM-1620 Computer, designed in 1959.
Museums' 138 pound Meteorite
Museums' Meteorite at Edwards AFB on loan to NASA for Public Outreach
Darlene with the Meteorite at Lancaster California for a NASA Public Outreach
Steve Smith from NASA and Owen holding Moon Rocks (Public Outreach)
Owen and Mary Ann at Apple Valley Air Show working on NASA Public Outreach
Autographed Photograph of Dr. Wernher von Braun (1912-1977)
Big Bear resident and friend Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) and Owen at airshow
Letter to my Dad from Astronaut / Senator John Glenn (1921- 2016) concerning airline deregulation
Picture from Jack Swigert (1931-1982) from Apollo 13
Tim Jordan saved these projector parts from a dumpster and donated them to the Musem!
"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... "
(author: Gary Likert)
Like the waves of the sea are the ways of fate,
(author: Eller Wheeler Wilcox)
With the self-same winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sails, and not the gales,
Which tell the way they go.
As we voyage through life.
Tis the set of the soul which decides its goal,
And not the calm or strife."
- from scientific legends to enthusiasts tinkering in garages and barns ..
.. these worlds meet, mingle, and all share one common purpose - the stars."
Gary Likert - Home Planetarium Association
Poem by Planetarium Projector Museum Poet Lariat Gary Likert to King Zeiss
"In your shadow long was I a child
Held spellbound through emotions wild
as you wheeled in equal majesty
neath your firmament above
but the campfires of the souls you showed
lit a fire of my own you know
and the brilliant sparks you kindled
burn forever in my love
now my childhood passion's somewhat waned
for the the theaters of the stars have changed
those relentless gods of progress
cannot ever be denied
but I close my eyes and back I hail
to the chambers where King Zeiss prevailed
and in my own small way I carry on
your legacy inspired..."
"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.."
(author: Gary Likert - HPA)
Owen Phairis, P.O. Box 3400, Big
Bear Lake, California
92315
(909) 806-5698
(909) 806-5698