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How to Build a 3D Model of the Phases of the Moon

Modeling the Earth and moon allows an appreciation for the angles involved in creating the phases of the moon. The moon is illuminated on one side by the sun, while the side of the moon facing away from the sun is dark. As the moon orbits the earth, different angles between the earth, sun, and moon bring different portions of the illuminated and dark side into view. A view of the dark side of the moon is called a new moon while a view of the illuminated side of the moon is called a full moon. When the moon is progressing from new to full it is said to be waxing and from full to new it is waning.

Things You'll Need

Small Lamp
Large Styrofoam Ball
Small Styrofoam Ball
Blue Paint
Light Gray Paint
Floral Wire

Instructions

- 1
  Paint the large Styrofoam ball blue to represent the Earth. Paint the small Styrofoam ball gray to represent the moon.
- 2
  Bend the end of a piece of floral wire into a small hook shape. The hook should be approximately ½-inch in length.
- 3
  Slide the floral wire through the Styrofoam ball representing Earth to the hooked end of the wire. Secure the ball to the floral wire by piercing the hook into the ball.
- 4
  Bend the end of another piece of floral wire into a small hook shape. Again, the hook should be approximately ½-inch in length.
- 5
  Slide the floral wire through the Styrofoam ball representing the moon to the end of the hooked wire. Secure the ball to the floral wire by piercing the hook into the ball.
- 6
  Twist the floral wire protruding from the top of the moon around the floral wire protruding from the top of the Earth. The length of floral wire between the Earth and the moon should be long enough for the moon to hang over the side of the Earth but not so long that the moon hangs below the Earth. The floral wire twist should remain loose enough for the moon to spin around the Earth.
- 7
  Hang the model near a light source such as a lamp. The side of the Earth illuminated represents the dayside. As the moon is moved around the Earth, the side facing the light will remain lit. Viewed from the model of Earth, different amounts of the light side and dark side of the moon will be visible showing the phases of the moon.

Astronomy