Watching the early space program as a youth ignited John McLaren's passion for space and flying. Growing up near Chicago, he was able to take classes at the Adler Planetarium. He worked to buy a 6-inch telescope in grade school, learned to fly in high school, and became an aerospace engineer. Over the years John has been able to teach pilots to fly in small two seat airplanes and in jet simulators, while bringing home a bigger telescope from time to time. John enjoys seeing and photographing the universe. He also enjoys public outreach star parties where he has been able to give people perhaps their first close up view of the Moon, a planet, or a galaxy. Sharing knowledge is fun.