Q&A for How to Make a Planet Model

Saturn's rings are made up of tons of tiny rocks and dust — they're not solid disks. To show this, you could make a model where Saturn floats in water, with part of it sticking out. Then you can have spirals of stuff like glitter or sand floating around it to look like the rings. That shows they're not solid.

Yes, but it will look more realistic if you use the actual colors of the planet you're making.

As you stick the papers to the balloon leave a small opening. After the paper dries, you can pop the balloon with a pin and remove it.

Because using a solid adhesive that bonds with the paper makes a unit that is structurally sound. You must be sure that your layer is thick enough, I would probably use 4-5 layers to be sure it doesn't collapse when the balloon is popped.

You could find tons of videos of planets on YouTube!

To make a smaller model all you have to do is halve the sizes of all the given measurements.

Be creative! Make it whatever color and terrain that pleases you and decide how much water and land there is, or perhaps have only one type of cover for the whole planet. Try to make it realistic by looking at what real planets have,

Using a pin, poke the balloon so that it will burst. Then take the balloon out.

Yes, only when you pop the balloon inside will you be left with a solid papier mache surface.

Absolutely not, be creative with it and try lots of different ideas, like paper mache, or even old junk around your house. Most people just use Styrofoam because it is cheap and easy to work with.

Check out tutorials on making papier mache.

I wouldn't. While Jupiter does have faint, narrow rings, they can be difficult to see and aren't usually included in depictions of the planet.

Try cutting a hole a little bigger than the dowel ring and spin it with your hands.

Yes. Many Styrofoam balls are flat on the bottom, so you could put a little bit of glue or blue tack on the bottom to stand it up. You could also try using a wooden skewer, like a chopstick, to mount the planet.

Yes, but be careful that you don't blow it up too much or it can become an oval shape.

Yes, but they are harder to see than rings around other planets.

No, it will not work as well.

Yes, just multiply by 2.54 to get the centimeters.

You can use tan, white, red, and orange. Tan, orange and white for the planet itself and red for the spot.

Yes, you could definitely make a Styrofoam model of the moon. You wouldn't even have to color it!

Yes, of course! This would be an excellent addition to your model.

Not really, because only a balloon can form a shape of a sphere without many difficulties. You could use Styrofoam balls or something like that but it would cost more money.

Perhaps you can use double sided tape, or use a hot glue gun to attach it to your board.

Neptune does have rings, but they are very dark and faint, and are usually omitted from depictions.

You can buy them at craft stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby. I've bought them at the Dollar Tree as well.

You can use a regular tennis ball or a baseball, but the texture might be hard to work with. You should be able to find the correct materials at any craft store.

If you want to add rings and/or craters, it would be difficult, but it's not impossible.

One or two should be sufficient. You don't want the paint to crack, but you do want to make sure the entire surface is covered.

One way to do this would be to scrunch up foil, paint it gray and black and just stick it on with glue.

Yes, Neptune has varying shades of light and dark blue, so your suggestion is ideal.