One of the greatest compilations of planetarium projectors is the so-called Planetarium Museum in Big Bear Lake about 150 km East of Los Angeles, California. It exhibits various opto-mechanical star projectors from different manufacturers and ages going as back as to the 1940s. Some of them are unique constructions that never went into serial production. Almost all of kinds of devices can be inspected here. The visitors get an insight into the history of technics, improvements in construction and the different designs as needed for the celestial presentation.

Each apparatus has its own, very fascinating history -- where and when it was built, under which circumstances, what adventures it experienced before it was decommissioned and finally found its way to the museum. For example, there is a one-of-a-kind Spitz projector that was built under contract for NASA. It is a sphere of 61 cm in diameter and was used to simulate a trip to the Moon for the Apollo Program. It was given to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who in turn used it to design their own navigation computer. Or another pearl is a home-built device that demonstrates what can be done by dedicated amateurs with a little creativity, some technical skills and a few trips to the local hardware store.

The proprietor of the museum, Owen Phairis, started his collection in 2001, when he purchased his first device: a very rare Goto S-2 which is one of three known to exist. Since then, he has managed to obtain many more, and the collection has risen to 14 units. He turned the assemblage into a museum in Spring 2007 when space in his house was getting scarce. The new building offers 88 square meters and shows the development of the opto-mechanical machines from 1947 till modern times. While listening to the enthusiastic narrations on the special features, Phairis guides his visitors from one gem to the other. Acquiring these projectors has brought with them a certain obligation to not only care for them, but also to share them. Phairis would like to display the collection or parts of it in the form of a traveling planetarium exhibit, displaying it at museums or other appropriate places. His hope is that the instruments will provide a stimulus and inspire others to take part in engineering fields working out custom-built devices.

Website: http://www.planetariummuseum.com/