How to create a fiber optic starfield ceiling

Step 7 Enjoy your new starfield ceiling

Turn the lights out... flip on the illuminator, and enjoy nature's majesty. Or, something like that...

Also, for those that are interested... I added a video of the illuminator with the color-wheel installed instead of the flicker wheel. I definitely like the flicker much better, but it's a nice (free) option.

Also, I colored 3 stars with simple highlighters. These pictures make the lights appear to be all different shades, but they are mostly just 'white'. There is a very slight variance between the 3 star sizes, but the 'white' is pretty even. I wanted to have 3 'special' stars, so I found 3 that were fairly long and colored the ends with pink, blue and green highlighters. They are noticeably colored when viewing from an angle, but disappear completely if you lay directly underneath them.

That's it... all done. I hope you enjoyed this instructable. I will be more than happy to answer any questions.

Comments

[AnObeseCat]

Hey, I LOVE the stars, they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL.. I was thinking about doing this for my 6 year old daughter, but there is no space above her room, no attic or anything, so how would I go about doing this? Or is it not possible?

[viper518]

You could actually make another (false) ceiling right under the ceiling that you have now.This could be made out of drywall OR make a frame then you some kind of panelling that you choose. it would just lower the ceiling by an inch. just would have to do it low enough not to kink or bend the fiberoptic cable. The light box would have to be small enough for you to fit in your Actual ceiling you have now. you could cut a hole in your ceiling to fit that in between the ceiling joist. if you ever wanted to take it down you could patch it back with dry wall. Home Depot or who ever you have near by sells access panels to put in drywall. you could do that for your light box so you could access it if you need to then paint it black I do make some light boxes and could do one for you if you wanted. I sell them way cheaper than they are sold online for the price. they are home made but I would guarentee my work. hope this helps

[allangee]

I didn't see any vapor barrier in any of the attic shots. That isn't required in your part of the country? Up north here, vapor barrier is always applied on the warm (indoor) side of the insulation -- over the joists and studs -- then drywall/gyproc/wallboard is applied. Drilling that many holes through a vapor barrier would require a better sealant than a water-based glue imo. Looks great though!

[justmakeme!]

Great work! Love the constellation look better than the isolated stars. Looks like an older house by the construction, probably wasn't even an option for vapor barrier when built. I am living in a similar house in TX (built 1930) and don't think I could force myself to dig in that stuff in the attic that much!! My ideal plan (for the old black loose insulation like I have) would be a floating ceiling with 1X2-inch furring strips and 1/4-inch drywall or cement board fake ceiling to install the fibers. Would be much more work, though.

[mikegalloway]

It is not required in TX... though, I would imagine that would be a major pain.

[JermsG]

Absolutely fantastic. My best friend did something similar, except he was renting at the time so just used LEDs attached to several large sheets of construction paper joined together. He's now talking about making a bigger one and sewing it into a black sheet for better effect. Now that he owns his own house I think he needs to be convinced that this is the way to go instead. Seeing his original model convinced me that this was a good idea, except now I'm back to renting again, so no holes in the ceiling for me just yet, darn it! I was going to ask how you managed to get the constellation effects with so few cables, but then I realised I was looking at reflections on the textured surface of the ceiling. That's the first time I've appreciated a textured ceiling!

[MiriadaTheCarrot]

I'm in awe.

[Ragenule]

When you mentioned how it got insanely hot in your attic, I sat thinking how you could prevent that. The only way I thought of was by removing the ceiling drywall and insulation, figuring out where to drill the holes on the new drywall while its on the ground (Also making constellations easier) and then drill, and finally place the drywall in the correct positions. from there, you WOULD have to go into the attic to install the fibers and insulation, but it would make the whole drilling process much more pleasant I would think.

[star.shine616]

this is so AMAZING!!! omg. its possibly the coolest thing EVER!!!!! two thumbs way WAY up!

[elmarco38]

One question does the remote work through RF or is it infated like a TV remote. In other words does it require line of sight to operate the illuminator?

[elmarco38]

Great instructable, I'm definately going to try this out on our baby's room. Thanks for a great instructable.

[hond0]

agree with the rest,
outstanding work. you deserve a gold medal for patience and attention to detail.

i'm gonna give this a run this summer.  i'll see if i can "mod-up" the project with pre-lit panels, as i have no attic access.

[Benson1]

How hard do you think it would be to also do this inside the walls ofthe room?

I can see a few flaws with wanting the floor as well, but a man can dream....

[flamekiller]

It'd be pretty easier if you doing during construction or a remodel.  Same with the floor.  Certainly easier than with the attic install. 

[nazculi]

Is thinking about putting something like this in his car, wondering if its legal since rolls have them. Maybe, Just Maybe.

[endobabe]

What a lucky lady your wife is to have such a handy and ambitious man at home! I think you'll be  a great dad, too!  Great idea you've posted-awesome outcome!  Enjoy family life:)

[Devilturnip]

 How many "stars" do you get out of two strands of fiber optics?

[mikegalloway]

That completely depends on the number of fibers per bundle.  The package that I went with had bundles of 144 stars, so 288 total.  You can find lower-cost packages with 50 stars per bundle, or just purchase them individually and bundle yourself.

[Devilturnip]

 Thanks! My wife and I are both space nuts, so I'm hoping I can convince her that this is a good idea.

[pbrigido]

That is very impressive.  Did you drill diagonally into some of the beams to prevent horizontal "blank" streaks?

[mikegalloway]

Yeah, a little bit... I can still see the 2" blank areas because I know that attic intimately.  When I point out the blanks, people can't see them so well.  I think I filled it in decently.

[pbrigido]

It filled in increcibly.  I've watched your video many times and haven't been able to notice any pattern at all.

I was going to attempt a project similar to this in my home theater room in my basement, but after seeing the need to work above the intended room, I may have to rethink my intentions.

Again, incredible work!

[feriultra]

That is pretty cool looking. What amazing idea! And where to buy an illuminator in the Slovakia?!! Heh. :)
Maybe in the future ....

[Tora EV]

Well I have to say I enjoyed reading this “instructables” and will be doing this in my new house in the children’s bedrooms and the lounge room.

For the children’s bedrooms I will research the star constellations for Japan and do those constellations in the children’s rooms, it may come in handy as a teaching tool later on in time or maybe not.

Now being a former Australian I will look up the constellation for the skies of Perth Western Australia my home city and install that in the lounge room ceiling. This will be fantastic for romantic nights with the wife in snow covered Sapporo. Snow outside failing, Open log fireplace burning, a few glasses of warm Sake or Ume wine. New Zealand Sheep Skin rungs on the wooden floors, light down low, watching the stars, sipping on warm Sake or Ume and listening to Beethhoven moon light sonata

Will be fun as the milkyway is very noticeable from my home city Perth.

[bien2t]

that's the BOMB! :) totally cool.  now i'm wondering where to buy an illuminator in the Philippines.  haha!

[magicronn]

Thank you for posting this most excellent instructable. It was a lot of fun to read and I am pretty darn motivated to try it out. Best wishes to you and your new family member!