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How to Make a Shadow Box of Saturn

Saturn in the night sky can be recreated in striking detail in a handmade shadow box. Build the shadow box from sturdy matte board, which can be found at craft and art supply stores. Matte board can be cut with a mat knife, which is also found at art supply stores. This shadow box would be appropriate for a science or astronomy school project and could also fascinate a space-obsessed youngster on a rainy weekend.

Things You'll Need

Large sheet matte board
Mat knife
Wooden cutting board
Hot glue gun
Black spray paint
Styrofoam ball, 3-inch diameter
8 1/2 by 11-inch sheet of Styrofoam
Compass and pencil
Construction paper
Scissors
White glue
Heavy black thread
Straight pin
Black electrical tape
Poster paint
Paintbrush
Pushpin
Flashlight

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a 10-inch square from the matte board with the mat knife. Cut four 10-inch by 5-inch strips from the matte board.
- 2
  Hot glue the strips to the edges of the 10-inch square at right angles to create the shadow box. Spray the entire shadow box black, inside and outside.
- 3
  Measure a 7-inch diameter circle on the Styrofoam sheet with the compass and cut out the circle with the matte knife. Measure and cut out a 3-inch circle in the center of the larger circle.
- 4
  Draw and paint rings of various colors on both sides of the Styrofoam circle with the compass and poster paint. Paint the ball orange. Let all paint dry thoroughly and fit the ball inside the circle, adding glue to secure.
- 5
  Tie the black thread to the head of a straight pin and poke the pin in the top of the Saturn ball. Attach the other end of the thread to the top of the shadow box with the electrical tape. Saturn will hang at an angle.
- 6
  Press the pushpin into the back of the shadow box multiple times to create star points. Position the flashlight outside the back of the shadow box to shine light through the star points.

Astronomy