Disgusted --- Bought a Planetarium!!!

Hi Gang,
I,ve been doing this astronomy thing for over 40 years and after lots of scopes (and lots of moola)I,m beginning to see the light.The viewing here in Minnesota is,well lets just say not the best and leave it at that.Last week one of my astronomy buds and I were complaining about the overcast ect and he came up with a novel solution just in gest.Lets sell all our gear and run to the nearest Toys are us and get us a toy planetarium, you know the ones.My wife Leni and I made the trip, $29.99 and you even get a neat light pointer to point all the neat stuff on the ceiling.Now everynight is a viewing night,heck last night we even popped popcorn.Will I sell all my mint equipment,maybe if I keep having this much fun!!!Now everynight is a clear night (on our family room ceiling).




Dave

Things aren't much better just south of you in Iowa.

I did buy a Spitz Junior Planetarium ( see it here: http://antiqueradio.org/art/spitz01.jpg ) at an auction with the idea that I would use it with my kids ( 8, 6, and 4 ) to teach then their way around the night sky.

They love it. We darken one of the bedrooms and pile on the bed and I use a red laser pointer to point out the constellations and tell them a little about the story of each one.

I was really surprised one night when we happened to be outside when they all pointed up at the real thing and started to tell me the constellations they were seeing. It was a Proud Daddy Moment if there ever was one.

So enjoy your planetarium, and if there are kids around make sure you share.

Just a thought:
There are a number of over the Inet robotic scopes you can rent time on for viewing.
Not to plug any particular one but I've found Slooh to be excellent. It's in the Canary Islands and for a minimal flat yearly fee you can 'observe' their 14" scope just about any time. They have various continuous presentations all night whenever the scope isn't scheduled for Private Use. (Roughly 1 PM to 1 AM CST) They also have speakers 3 or 4 nights a week - Levy, Phil Harrington, Todd Carlson and more.
For not much more than the cost of your planetarium you can do actual observing.
(BTW I'm not in any way connected with Slooh other than being an annual subscriber.)
Clear Skies!
http://www.slooh.com