3D - 2

Does any body have any ideas on how to build a 3d model of the milky way galaxy?

I am helping my little cousin find the center of the galaxy as her science project and she had the idea of building a 3d model of the galaxy but we really have no idea how to go about it. What types of materials could we use? Does any one knows where i can find images of home made models? anything would help! Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Well the simplest would be using cotton wadding or sheets (extra fancy would be to put streaks of color and lines of black in the arms (gas and dust lanes)). Loosely roll them into long ropes (kind of like dreadlocks) and form them into a rough spiral shape. For the central bulge of the galaxy, make a flattened sphere of the cotton wadding. The whole thing could held together with coat hanger wire or thin wire netting. Do an image search on your web browser for the "Milky Way" for ideas on the shape and size of our home galaxy.
2. Not a promising topic. It is going to look like a spiral arrangement of fluff at best. And "little cousin" seems to make it more problematic because it is going to have to use something else, like wires and then say "Each of these wires represents 10,000 (or 100,000) stars." I would suggest abandoning the 3D model and instead go with a lightly thickened (relief) version of 2D, perhaps using sand on glue lines to represent the stars the arms and the 100 to 1 width to thickness ratio. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way#Size
3. The Milky Way Galaxy looks sort of like Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300 To make a 3D model, how about using clear gel and black sand. Fill the large glass container with a layer of gel, start adding sand in a swirling form, let it set and add sand til you finish the galaxy. Then add a layer on top to give it a 3D look. :-D A galaxy would look like swirling points of light, but you can do it in negative. I could not find a black and white photo, but this is a real color photo of a galaxy: http://images.nrao.edu/images/M81_med.jpg
4. The Milky Way is a barred spiral, so go to an astronomy site for pictures of batted spirals. I'd maybe use different size styrofoam balls and pieces of needles to connect them.
5. Why don't you make it on your computer ? This way you can animate it and use your fantasy :D Try to use Blender for this job