At our next Bear den meeting we are going to focus on Bear Elective 1: Space. So I want to try to do the pinhole planetariums with them. I think they will enjoy this because it involves hammers, nails, and flashlights.
Printable copy of Pinhole Planetarium
Materials
- Clean, empty 15 oz cans (1 for each constellation)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hammer
- Nail
- Constellation patterns (see printable copy)
Instructions
- Cut out the patterns. (See the printable version to get the patterns.)
- Glue the patterns to the ends of the cans and let the glue dry.
- Using the hammer and nail, punch holes through the patterns into the can where the dark black dots are locate.
- Turn out the lights in the room.
- Place a flashlight in the can and turn it on.
- Look at the bottom of the can. You should be able to see the pattern of the constellation through the holes.
The universe is not static. Plus, some of the placements for the nail holes had to be adjusted due to being to close together. If the accuracy of the constellation pattern is important, you must use a star chart. The pictures on the patterns are just to give the scouts an idea how the ancients used their imaginations to visualize the constellations.
This activity can be used with
- Bear Elective 1b: Make a pin hole planetarium and show three constellations.
- Cub Scouts Sports and Academics Program Astronomy Beltloop and Pin
- Astronomy Merit Badge
Love the site (dad btw)
So what do you have the boys do while the glue dries?
Whatever is going on at the rest of the meeting. I usually use a fast drying tacky glue for stuff like this. If you glue them on at the beginning of the meeting, they should be dry enough after about 30 or 40 minutes.
Or just tape it on and skip the drying altogether…just a thought.
or use a glue stick
Hi, I’m kinda dumb when it comes to computer stuff…when I went to the printable site to get the patterns, all I got was “click to delete” wherever I put my cursor…Please help….can you send me a link to the patterns? Thanks.
Never mind I got it thank you!
Okay, so I have been messing around with this, but whenever I put a light to the constelation I made in the can and try to shin it on a roof or wall it just becomes mushed. Really unfocused, not little dots of light like I remember as a kid. Tried to move the flashlight back and forth to ‘focus’ but no effect. My two guess are that either the holes are to big or the light is to bright. Anyone have any ideas on the exact size of nail (everything i read just says small) or about how bright a flashlight should be (big billyclub maglite or cheap dinky one.)
Try shining it on something closer, like a wall, but only a foot or two away. A really bright flashlight and a really dark room helps also.