How To Make A Wire Hanger Model Of The Solar System

Making a model of the solar system is a project that nearly every child must complete at least once in her life. The wire hanger solar system mobile is a tried and true method of making a mock solar system. Use foam balls of varying shapes to achieve the size scale necessary to create the solar system. Try to add as much realism to the planets as possible for the best results. Cover the hanger in tiny stars cut from card stock to give the mobile a more finished appearance.

Step 1

Spray paint each foam ball in the appropriate colors and patterns. Use yellow for the sun, gray for Mercury, blue and green for the Earth, red for Mars, orange and white for Jupiter, yellow for Saturn, light blue for Uranus and dark blue for Neptune. You can also include the dwarf planet Pluto, which used to be considered one of the main planets in the solar system, but now is a controversial planet. If you use Pluto, spray paint it gray.

Step 2

Cut out a circle of paper to fit over Saturn and glue the rings around the planet.

Step 3

Poke a hole through the center of each planet with a bamboo skewer.

Step 4

Tie a length of fishing line to eight different washers. Thread the end of each fishing line through the hole in the center of each planet. Tie the other end of the fishing line to a wire hanger. Arrange the planets in the correct order.

Step 5

Adjust the lengths of the strings so that the planets don't hit each other.

Step 6

Cut out paper stars from card stock paper. Glue the stars onto the hanger with craft glue.