Miniature Revolving Solar System

I am not sure exactly where this idea came from. It started with a hollowed out light bulb that I had lying around and thinking that it would be neat to put a miniature solar system model inside. Then I thought it would be even better if it actually moved.

I became inspired when came across some images of orreries. Orreries are mechanical planetary models that revolve at relative speeds using gears. Unfortunately in my own model the planets revolve at the same speed, but I designed it with fake gears and a plate indicating months, seasons and astrology glyphs to resemble a real orrery.

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Step 1: What you will need

Materials:

Light weight clay
Lightbulb
Small clock
Brass wire
Bamboo skewer
Hard drive platter
Stand

Tools:

Glue: PVA, Super Glue, and hot glue
Printer and paper
Needle nose pliers
Sharpie pens, gold and copper model paint, nail polish

Tarun Upadhyaya says: Mar 24, 2013. 2:54 AM

I have one word to say. AWESOME :)

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ChrysN (author) in reply to Tarun UpadhyayaMar 24, 2013. 10:54 AM

Thanks!

GorillazMiko says: Feb 28, 2013. 9:54 AM

Nice.

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ChrysN (author) in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 28, 2013. 6:32 PM

Thanks!

J-Five says: Dec 27, 2012. 9:11 AM

It's a small world after all!!!

J-Five says: Dec 25, 2012. 3:21 PM

Out of this world!!!!

Do you consider Pluto a plantet, well I do

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ChrysN (author) in reply to J-FiveDec 26, 2012. 6:28 PM

Thanks! They are calling it a dwarf planet now, though I was tempted to include it in my solar system.

azharz says: Nov 30, 2012. 7:38 AM

Congratulations for being the finalist in hack it contest, I am sure you will win one of those prizes.

poofrabbit says: Nov 27, 2012. 8:42 PM

Hey congratulations on being a finalist in the hack it contest! Good luck to you! (I really do adore this, I am pulling for you, not that I have any power...lol)

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ChrysN (author) in reply to poofrabbitNov 28, 2012. 9:49 AM

Thanks!

ynze says: Nov 10, 2012. 4:12 PM

Love it! And, as already said in the comments, it would be great to expand this with different rotational speeds and some moons... Or make one of an imaginary solar system, with freaky little planets and a double star sun :-)

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ChrysN (author) in reply to ynzeNov 11, 2012. 10:56 AM

Interesting idea making imaginary solar systems or maybe making one from the Star Wars universe or other fictional solar systems. I'm sure you'd be able to find star maps of the Star Wars one.

ynze in reply to ChrysNNov 11, 2012. 2:23 PM

To be continued... :-)

porcupinemamma says: Nov 11, 2012. 7:21 AM

P.S. I voted "winner"

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ChrysN (author) in reply to porcupinemammaNov 11, 2012. 10:55 AM

Thanks you! I made the paper with the months and season on my computer (my handwriting is not very neat).

porcupinemamma says: Nov 11, 2012. 7:19 AM

Astounding! A real keeper! Perhaps I've missed this...did you free hand draw the summer /autum... paper?

EducationSmellsSweet says: Nov 5, 2012. 5:07 PM

I am in love with this, I would love to have it on my desk! Time for me to raid my husbands tools I believe.

LostRite says: Oct 17, 2012. 2:08 PM

Love it! I broke my light bulb so I will just have to wait until the next one burns out to try again...

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ChrysN (author) in reply to LostRiteOct 17, 2012. 3:24 PM

I found hollowing out a light bulb to be the hardest part. Not to mention dangerous too, I got a few scratches from that.

BluesBayou says: Oct 17, 2012. 4:35 AM

This would be a great addition to the Mad Scientist lab, desk.... :) Good job!

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ChrysN (author) in reply to BluesBayouOct 17, 2012. 9:38 AM

Yes, it would! Thanks.

lbrewer42 says: Oct 7, 2012. 11:21 AM

Out of this world!

OK, so I like corny puns :)

Great project - I like the concept of it being in a glass globe.

I wonder if drilling small holes in the skewer and inserting/gluing the free end of the wire-holding-planet into the holes would work easier than trying to wrap the wire tightly?

I also wonder if painted beads of the "right" sizes might work well for planets (with painted highlights).

Amazing concept and I really like the add on gears and other embellishments.

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ChrysN (author) in reply to lbrewer42Oct 7, 2012. 5:57 PM

Thanks, the beads are a good idea, though I was worried that they might be a bit heavy, the clay I used is really light.

lbrewer42 in reply to ChrysNOct 7, 2012. 6:18 PM

This makes sense!

Exocetid says: Oct 7, 2012. 4:46 PM

Wow! Sort of disappointing. I thought the planets actually moved correctly like an Orrery. It is doable, inside the bulb, which is great BTW. Making it work would be non-trivial, but the gears would be for real.

Concentric shafts is the key and construction not unlike a ship in a bottle.

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ChrysN (author) in reply to ExocetidOct 7, 2012. 5:55 PM

Yes, that's why I didn't call it a real orrery, I don't have any experience making gears, I guess you can design it on a computer and print it out in 3d or cut them on a laser cutter.

trrydms says: Oct 7, 2012. 12:26 PM

super cool!

waterbaby says: Oct 4, 2012. 9:57 AM

Kiteman beat me to the comment: absolutely brilliant!

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ChrysN (author) in reply to waterbabyOct 4, 2012. 3:48 PM

Thanks!

jmray says: Oct 4, 2012. 2:46 PM

Wicked is right.

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mikeasaurus says: Oct 3, 2012. 12:05 PM

This is great! I love orreries, they always held my interest when I was in school.

I know at this scale it would be incredibly difficult, but if the glass bulb was a little larger there may be room to put the inner planets on the seconds dial with the outer planets on the hour dial, giving to different rotational speeds.

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ChrysN (author) in reply to mikeasaurusOct 3, 2012. 5:58 PM

I think if you make it without the light bulb you could do this easily, you could probably put Jupiter and Saturn on the minute hand and Uranus and Neptune on the hour hand. Most orreries models aren't under glass anyway.