This is a fun and unique machine that just popped into my head. I am not sure of the train of thought that brought me to this project but I am glad I did it.

And, I have learned a lot while making this one so I will be upgrading it and making a better improved version.

You can watch the video for this project down below.

This project uses a clever yet easy mechanism. You can learn more about that mechanism here:

How to easily change the axis of rotation

This is a clever way to change rotation on a 90 degree axis. Simple to make. In the picture you turn the hand crank at "A" and the motion is transferred to the paddlewheel at "B" which is 90 degrees different. You can't do this with pulleys. And it is much easier to do! Cardboard machine for changing the Axis of rotation.

The Video is here

More about the constellation machine:

Here is what it looks like inside the machine. And those constellations rotate.

The Heart of this project is a thin aluminum pie plate that I bought for a dollar. I cut it to a ten inch in diameter circle.

I printed up a chart of the constellations and taped it to the pie plate. Then used an awl to punch all the stars; creating pin holes in the pie plate.

Here is a look inside the machine. The wooden dowel is what drives the spinning disk. Off camera to the left is a little handle on the end of the wooden dowel. You spin that handle and the constellations turn.

On the back side of that disk the area is enclosed and wrapped with aluminum foil. It has a flashlight that shines on our constellation disk. The aluminum foil is simply to amplify the light.