A Solar System Simulator Science Fair Project

Planet Models

• Collect at least nine Styrofoam balls in various sizes. The balls will represent the approximate sizes of the planets (and our star), beginning with the Sun, then Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto can be left as an option. True scale will not be possible, but approximate sizes can be gauged by visiting NASA's website. For instance, the Sun would represent the largest sphere, then Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and so on. Sand the Styrofoam spheres down to smaller versions, if necessary.

Colors and Hues

• Refer to the NASA website and note the different colors and hues of each planet. Yellow obviously represents the Sun. Use simple schoolroom craft paint and a brush to render each planet in the color that best represents its physical appearance. Pay attention to detail, like water and clouds for Earth; thick, smoggy-colored ozone for Venus; and different colored stripes and striations for Jupiter. Cut a cardboard ring and glue it around the planet representing Saturn, and paint it accordingly. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Support Rods

• Gather metal coat hangers and bend them out in straight lines. Cut the longest rods, starting in descending order with Neptune (or Pluto), and work your way down to the shortest rod, which will be Mercury. Use wire cutters to fashion the rods to correct length. Stick the rods in the Sun sphere, close to the equator in any arrangement around its perimeter that suits you. Spacing them evenly around in a circle will work well, leaving adequate clearance between the planets.

Platform Stand

• Use a single-post lamp stand to serve as the platform, or construct a tripod out of wood to support the physical diorama. Connect fishing line to the top of the support stand and suspend the sun from it with a thumb tack. You may need to reposition the planets around the sun by removing their rods and placing them in new positions, to keep them balanced. Another alternative can involve placing the Sun over a thin pipe, attached to a support platform, making the diorama stable. Disassemble the model for easy transport to the science fair and assemble it on site.