![[Craft] Handmade Planetarium Idea Book](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/PX5JzY5Kerg/maxresdefault.webp)
[Craft] Handmade Planetarium Idea Book
A sky full of twinkling stars… Doesn’t just imagining it fill your heart with romance?
Light traveling from far, far away gathers to create a beautiful carpet of stars.
Here’s a suggestion: why not enjoy that breathtaking scene to your heart’s content right at home?
What we’re introducing today is a collection of DIY planetarium ideas!
Everything can be made with materials you can find at local shops, so anyone can give it a try with ease!
[Craft] Handmade Planetarium Ideas (1–10)
Planetarium with cardboard and paper plates
It’s a pointed, triangular device that projects a starry sky, made by combining black construction paper, aluminum foil, and a paper plate.
Cut the construction paper into a half circle, mark the star positions, and punch holes.
Cut out the center of the paper plate so a light bulb can be set in, and wrap the entire plate in aluminum foil to reflect the light.
Then roll the construction paper into a cone and set it into the paper plate; attach a light on the inside, and you’re done.
You can punch holes at random to highlight the beauty of the night sky, or add lines to accurately recreate specific constellations—that could be fun too.
A simple cardboard planetariumNEW!
You can make a planetarium using just a cardboard box and aluminum foil! Cut off all of one set of box flaps.
On the other set, cut them so that about 2 cm remains.
Fold the side with about 2 cm left as if closing the lid and secure it.
Place aluminum foil over that section and stick it on.
Use pens and needles of various thicknesses to make lots of holes.
Stretch the foil tightly and secure it, and you’re done.
Put a smartphone light or a small light inside while it’s on, turn off the room lights, and stars will spread across the room.
box-type planetarium
A cardboard planetarium—its key feature is that you can project a starry sky wherever you like.
The setup is simple: attach black paper with holes punched in the shapes of constellations to a cardboard box with one side cut out.
If you place a light inside the box, the constellations will be projected onto the walls of a dark room.
Or, hold the box up to a room light and peek inside to casually enjoy the feeling of visiting a planetarium.
Since only one side is used for projecting the stars, you can freely decorate the other sides to create your very own planetarium device.
dome-shaped planetariumNEW!
It’s a gentle, cardboard-made planetarium that can softly unfold a starry sky right inside the classroom.
First, create triangular and polygonal cardboard panels according to a blueprint, then connect them little by little and assemble them into a hemispherical dome.
The key is that by creating this rounded space, the sky looks more expansive.
Inside, place a light and sheets with star-shaped holes; when you turn off the lights, the stars gently float into view.
Going in with a small group will make for a special, secret-base-like memory!
Origami PlanetariumNEW!
You can make a cool-looking planetarium out of origami! First, use dark-colored origami paper, such as purple or black, to make pentagons.
Make a total of 11 of these.
Create one unit combining 6 and another combining 5, then join those two units together.
Next, cover one entire face with silver origami paper.
On the face without the silver paper, use a needle or similar tool to poke lots of tiny holes.
Finally, shape it into a dodecahedron with one face left open—and you’re done! By placing a light inside the open part, countless small stars will appear in a dark room.
Empty Bottle Planetarium
This is a planetarium that projects a starry sky by combining an empty bottle, a light, and black construction paper.
Because the light passes through the bottle material, it adds a gentle, warm quality to the glow.
The steps are very simple: cut the black paper to match the height of the bottle and the length of its interior, then punch holes according to your star layout.
Next, spread the paper along the inside of the bottle, close the lid with the light attached, and you’re done.
Place the untouched bottom on the desk so it projects light around the bottle, like a halo of stars.
A Planetarium with Paper PlatesNEW!
Amazingly, paper plates can project a beautiful starry sky! Prepare two deep paper plates and line the insides of both with aluminum foil.
Cut a square hole in the bottom of one plate.
In the other plate, use a pushpin to make lots of tiny holes in the bottom and sides.
Then evenly attach small pieces of colored cellophane over them.
Join and close the rims of the two plates, and decorate the outside as you like—that’s it! By placing your smartphone’s light at the square opening, countless stars will appear in a dark room with the lights off.