Vincent Kayijuka

Assignment One, Project Management
Week One, January 26 to 31, 2024

My project: The moon on the move

The idea: I wish to make a representation of the moon, in the shape of a moon globe like the earth globes we used to use at school. I am thinking of making a spheric solid object that rotates to display the main phases of the moon. These phases are the full moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent, New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, and Waxing Gibbous.

The following are the main phases of the moon

• Full Moon
• Waning Gibbous
• Last Quarter
• Waning Crescent
• New Moon
• Waxing Crescent
• First Quarter
• Waxing Gibbous

The american space agency NASA offers a good description of the moon phases.

I propose two main uses of the object: as a pedagogical material for young students and as a piece of art. I am always fascinated by the look of the moon in the sky and the display of its shape during its rotation around the earth. I suppose many people are fascinated as well.

To “manufacture” the moon, I will use the skills I will learn on computer-assisted design, 3D scanning and printing and related tools available in the FabLab workshop. It should be a glob about the size of a football (soccer) ball. I am thinking the Earth globes we had in classes, but this would be a Moon globe. I hope the class on molding and casting will help me give a final shape to my moon. I wish to use NASA photos and material to show some of the (visible) physical characteristics of the moon. I will then need some light to illuminate the moon during its rotation/phases. And I will need a device to time the rotation movements of the moon/globe. I expect the classes on embedded programming, electronics, and interface will help me realize these features.

How will it work?
The object will have a diameter of 34.75 cm, which is a scale factor of 1/100,000 since the diameter of the moon is about 3,475 km.
The moon will be supported (suspension) by a small cable in a slightly inclined position, to simulate its inclined position when seen in the universe/sky.
The globe will be divided into two equal parts (longitudinal axe), separated by a circular membrane, dark on one side and clear on the other side.
On the clear side, light will be set up to illuminate one half of the moon.
Two electronic devices will be installed. One will rotate the globe at a speed [TBD] so as to complete a full rotation in 36 seconds. Each phase will be visible/displayed for 4.5 seconds. If possible, the device will adjust these parameters.
The other device will control the light, to switch on and switch off.

Are there similar objects out there?
NASA offers a webpage that describes the moon and its different phases. It has a page called Space Place Explore Earth and Space, with images on the moon and learning material and activites. It has a nice visulaization that shows the moon's appearance throughout the moon.I want to make a solid object inspired from this video image.