How to Make a Solar System Mobile

A mobile is a kind of delicate decorative structure that is suspended from the ceiling and it moves in the air. It is a great home décor item and it can be constructed from a variety of materials. You must have seen colorful and ornate mobiles hanging down in fine dining restaurants, suspended from the ceiling. They are also seen in baby's room suspended over the crib to entertain the baby.

Although there are many designs and shapes of mobiles available in the market, from large-scale chandelier-sized ones to small delicate ones, you can construct one of your own. If you are thinking of making a mobile for your kids' room, then you can combine science with aesthetics by making a solar system mobile.

It is one of the best solar system projects to make. It is surprisingly easy to make and by taking a small trip to your local arts and crafts store, you can get all the necessary supplies.

Things required

• Card stock
• Large circle cutter
• Bone folder
• Small circle cutter
• Thread
• Pair of scissors
• Flexible wire
• Sewing machine
• Binder clips
• Fabric glue
• Leather needle
• Seam binding

Step 1: The first thing you need to do to make a solar system mobile is to cut out circles from card stock to represent the eight planets of the solar system. For representing Jupiter, mark a 9 inch circle on the card stock and cut it out by using the circle cutter. The dimensions for representing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune should be 4, 5, 5 ½, 4 ½, 8, 7 and 6 ½ inches.

Step 2: Cut out 12 circles for representing each planet. To make the solar system mobile more realistic, use different colors of card stock for representing each planet. Once you have cut out all the circles to represent the planets of the solar system, you should have a stack of 12 circles for each planet.

Step 3: Divide each stack of 12 circles into two equal parts. Next fold each stack of six circles into two equal parts along the diameter and secure the stacks together with small binder clips. Using the binder clips is not necessary, but it will help you in the next step when you sew the circles together.

Step 4: Attach a leather needle to the sewing machine and carefully sew through the center of each stack of circles. Make sure that you sew in a straight line as possible. Use the crease running along the center of the circles as a guideline.

Step 5: Attach the two stacks of circles together by using glue. Make sure that you wipe off excess glue from the paper. Next trim off the threads from the top and bottom portion of the circles. Make the other 8 planets in a similar way. To make a ring around Saturn, cut two concentric rings from the card stock and glue it over the circle representing Saturn planet.

Step 6: Attach 24 inch long seam bindings to the top portion of each planet with the help of fabric glue. Allow the glue to dry completely before you assemble the planets into the mobile hanger.

Step 7: Construct a mobile hanger by twisting a length of flexible wire into a round shape. Attach the ends of each seam binding to the mobile hanger at different heights by tying them in knots. Your solar system mobile is ready.

Note This project should be undertaken under the supervision of parents as it requires the use of a sewing machine.

Here is a more simple version of a solar system mobile that kids can make with minimum supervision.

• Silver foil/aluminum foil
• Thread
• Flexible wire
• Glue

Tear the silver foil into eight segments and scrunch them up into balls to represent the different planets. Fashion a circular disc with another piece of foil to represent the ring around the Saturn.

Glue this ring around the ball that represents the planet Saturn. Make a small hole on top of all the balls and attach long threads. Tie the threads on the flexible wire and your mobile is ready. Hang this mobile near a window and enjoy it swaying in the wind.

As you can see making a simple solar system mobile is an easy project which you can make within a few hours. Hang the mobile in your kid's room and get ready to answer their questions about the solar system.