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Musser Copernican Planetarium

Started by Howard Gao , Apr 02 2021 12:39 AM
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21 replies to this topic

#1 Howard Gao

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 12:39 AM

Not sure whether it's ok to post it here. I just got a Musser Copernican planetarium model 500, which was made in 1960s by Scientific Space Industries, a division of Hughes Aircraft Company. It's a very interesting planetarium and still amazing to me today. I would like to see if anyone else owns it and can share more information with me, or have spare overlay disks to sell.

 

For information, I found David Webb's website with some detailed introduction of it.

https://www.1958buic...page/musser.htm

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#2 Howard Gao

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 12:48 AM

Here's a photo of the planetarium with the comet overlay disk.

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#3 bugbit

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 01:09 AM

Definitely a awesome contraption. Reminds me of the original Lost in space.


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#4 PirateMike

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 02:07 AM

They don't build them like that anymore. Look, it has knobs.. but probably not a single integrated circuit.

 

How things have changed since "back in the day".

 

 

 

Miguel   8-)

 

.


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#5 William Whitaker

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 11:00 AM

How wonderfully fascinating. It looks very "retro-future".

Every home should have one!

 

Thank you for posting this!


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#6 Terra Nova

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 11:30 AM

How wonderfully fascinating. It looks very "retro-future".

Every home should have one!

 

Thank you for posting this!

Calling Dr. Who!


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#7 brian dewelles

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 04:48 PM

They have a musser prototype displayed at the planetarium museum in big bear, ca. Ive been there, very neat. The guy that runs it Owen Phairis is great. The musser planetarium is on his web site, an incredible site. planetariummuseum.com   

What you have is pretty rare and very nice.


Edited by brian dewelles, 02 April 2021 - 04:54 PM.

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#8 godelescher

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 05:07 PM

I think that's amazing. If you ever want to get rid of it, I would give you a 19 year old son and a labrador retriever. They're both in good shape, but they can both be gassy. Anyway, the offer is out there.

 

Fantastic find though. Well done.

 

The only place you could buy them, ever, was at the 1962 World's Fair, which also gave us the Space Needle. I grew up in Seattle, I'm only half-joking about trading for the kid and the dog


Edited by godelescher, 02 April 2021 - 05:12 PM.

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#9 starman876

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 06:37 PM

That is an awesome toy.  Congrats


#10 deepwoods1

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 07:29 PM

Super wicked awesome farout coolness! 


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#11 Stevegeo

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 08:25 PM

Reading Further into this, a 7 ft version was built as well, most likely a one off for the world's fair.

Still a fascinating piece of astro equipment. 

It would be great if it could be duplicated, same style case (retro look) with updated electrics . I would certainly buy one.

 And yes it looks straight out of Lost In Space..... 


#12 Stevegeo

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 08:33 PM

Read more at the planetarium museum.org/ musser

 

A lot to take in..as Spock would say...."FASCINATING "


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#13 Mr Magoo

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 10:55 PM

That is the only saved search I have on eBay. That is a fantastic rare bird. Thank you for sharing!


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#14 Howard Gao

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 07:10 PM

Thanks guys. I just powered it on last night and here are two photos. It’s very cool.

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Edited by Howard Gao, 04 April 2021 - 07:10 PM.

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#15 Howard Gao

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 07:11 PM

Here’s with a overlay disk (sorry for the roated photo due to CN website bug). l.jpeg


Edited by Howard Gao, 04 April 2021 - 08:25 PM.

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#16 Howard Gao

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 07:12 PM

Two short videos on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/MqJH6sFugTQ
https://youtu.be/Hc9_F_BVDfo


#17 mikerepp

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 06:08 AM

That is just wicked cool!  Thanks for sharing with us!


#18 Howard Gao

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 07:14 PM

Just got the photo corrected.

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#19 Stevegeo

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 07:21 PM

This is much KEWLER in my opinion then any app on my tablet.. I wish I had one...


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#20 Howard Gao

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Posted 15 April 2021 - 09:44 AM

A photo I bought on eBay about the large version planetarium.

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#21 nowhere

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Posted 16 April 2021 - 12:22 AM

I can't remember the last time something went from me being in complete ignorance of its existence to "I WANT ONE!" this quickly.


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#22 ccwemyss

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Posted 16 April 2021 - 11:10 AM

I have a vague recollection of seeing something like this in an old movie, or maybe it was Outer Limits or Twilight Zone, with aliens looking at the solar system from space.

 

Chip W. 


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