Activity Overview
Create an easy homemade planetarium with this user friendly astronomy project. Once completed, your light box will project groups of small starlike spots on the ceiling, wall or walls of a tent. Create several starlight projections by making multiple lids for your canister that can be interchangeable to put on an even more spectacular show. Young scientists can also rotate the lids and make the constellations move around the room.
Materials Needed
- Oatmeal canister with lid ( if you have extra lids you can use them here too!)
- Nail
- Flashlight
- Pencil
How to Make It
- Using a nail, punch "star" holes in the box lid. You can use star chart patterns online or from astronomy books or you can get your inspiration from the night sky. Try using several tops with different patterns for variety.
- You may be able to get more than one constellation on one lid, depending on the size of the lid that you are using.
- Press the back end of the flashlight against the center of the other end of the canister. Draw a circle around it with your pencil.
- Cut this hole out in the bottom of the canister and place the flashlight in the canister with the handle end protruding out the back of the can.
- Put the lid on.
- Shine toward the ceiling or wall in a dark room. You can even rotate the flashlighted canister,
