Two walls made from offcuts of wood hold the box above the torch, so that the top of the torch just reaches the fold line of the box, close to the distance (h) from the slide at the top. The stand will need to suit your torch, but a fairly heavy base with a hole that the torch can be stood in is a simple solution. It is easier to paint the insides before gluing the top section on. The inside must not create reflections, so we combined sawdust and matt black paint to overcome this. The box and slide frames are made from some stiff cardboard.Īfter cutting out, we used a hot-melt glue gun to join the sides, but strong tape would be fine.
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Find out how to do so by downloading our planetarium projector diagram (PDF). You’ll need this dimension (h) in order to mark out your box sides. Our torch had a ‘Zoom’ feature and we used it on the widest setting.īefore starting the project, you need to hold your torch above the chart so that its circular beam of light just spills beyond the chart’s edge, and measure the distance (h) between the torch and chart. It is important to use a torch with a single, small light source (an LED or tiny bulb) and it should also produce a fairly wide beam. You could orientate the projector so that the compass points (north, east, south and west) correspond with the edges of the ceiling. Next, place the box over the torch, lay a night-sky slide on the top and switch on. To use the projector, find a clear space on the floor for the torch in its base.
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You could use any star chart you happen to already have, or you can download the BBC Sky at Night Magazine November 2021 star chart (PDF).Īs well as being fun to make, this homemade planetarium is educational, as you can use it to learn how to star-hop and navigate between the constellations.Īnd by making multiple pinhole ‘slides’ you can demonstrate how the sky changes through the seasons.įor more DIY Astronomy projects, find out how to make a scale model of the Solar System, how to demonstrate an eclipse or how to make a Solar System mobile. It uses a normal LED torch as a light source and the pull-out all-sky chart from our the monthly ‘Sky Guide’ in BBC Sky at Night Magazine to position the pinholes you make for the stars. It’s a planetarium projector that projects a view of the night sky onto a bedroom ceiling. This is a family friendly project that you can build with minimal tools and basic skills.
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