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How to Create a Model of the Moon

Next to the sun, the moon is the most distinctive and bright object in the sky. It is our planet's only satellite and has played a prominent role in our cultural history, being a part of numerous myths and stories throughout the world since ancient times. The moon also exerts actual physical effects on the Earth's environment, being responsible for the generation of the tides. The surface of the moon has a distinctive look, being littered with numerous craters created by collisions between the moon and falling meteorites. You can create your own model of the moon using clay and a plastic foam ball.

Things You'll Need

Ball of plastic foam such as Styrofoam
Gray-colored oil-based clay
Plastic or wood balls of various sizes
Dulled pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain a plastic foam ball. The ball should have a diameter of at least 3 inches.
- 2
  Take some gray oil-based clay and knead it thoroughly to a smooth consistency.
- 3
  Apply the clay all around the foam ball in a layer that is about one-quarter to one-half-inch thick.
- 4
  Smooth the surface of the clay. It does not need to be perfectly smooth, but the ball should look round.
- 5
  Obtain a few plastic or wooden balls of various sizes. The balls should range in size from about one-quarter inch to 1 inch.
- 6
  Take a large ball and press it into the surface of the clay at three or four random locations around the moon ball. Press the ball just hard enough to leave a shallow indentation. These indentations represent the larger craters on the moon's surface.
- 7
  Use several balls of different, smaller sizes to make numerous shallow indentations in the clay at random locations around the moon ball. Overlap indentations of various sizes for a more realistic effect. These indentations represent the smaller craters on the moon's surface.
- 8
  Use a dulled pencil tip to make additional, shallow indentations in the clay surface. Distribute them randomly around the ball. These represent fault lines on the lunar surface.

Astronomy