Gary Likert

Gary Likert has been building planetariums at home since he first punched the Big Dipper into a cakebox in his darkened bedroom at age 14. After exclaiming 'I see STARS! to no one in particular, he embarked on a lifelong journey of creating increasingly exotic star theaters and projectors in closets, barns, backyards, and even a chicken coop or two at various residences. In his forties, Gary founded the world's first organized group of home planetarium enthusiasts, This was called the 'Home Planetarium Association', and as such met and corresponded with many of his fellow early pioneers in this niche with no name, as he describes it. Along the way he accumulated a number of 'firsts' in addition to the HPA as it was called. These included the first podcast about home planetariums, the first ebook and paperback on the subject, and one of the first of only a few large star cylinders in the world. He borders on being a humorist as well, maintaining both an eccentric but friendly way of communicating the rather complex details of this fascinating hobby, but also spends a lot of time on the more philosophical ideas behind it as well. While freely admitting a planetarium is a purveyor of 'fake stars', he finds unending inspiration in that gasp which comes both from himself and his visitors when they first catch a glimpse of the true beauty of the night sky. He invites everyone to come with him on this journey to the stars. The only reason any of us needs perhaps is, because they are UP THERE!