Build a Three-Dimensional Model of the Constelation Orion:

Try your hand at building a model of the constellation Orion. If you’re successful, you should get an idea of how the Lord Jesus spaced the different stars in relation with one another. (Of course, God doesn’t use wooden pegs—He’s able to keep stars in place just by telling them to stay there!) You will need a total of 150 centimeters (cm) of wooden dowel, a board 15 cm wide, 30 cm long, and at least 2 & 1/2 cm thick. You will also need to drill holes with a drill bit that is the same thickness (diameter) as the wooden pegs. DO NOT DRILL WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION! Drill holes 2 & 1/2 cm deep into the board using the pattern sheet*. Cut the dowels to the lengths specified below and insert them into their respective holes. (Make sure they are straight up and down.) If you can, paint all the pegs and the board flat black. Glue a small ball of aluminum foil to the top of each of the pegs. Find a very dark room and have someone shine a flashlight (torch) on your homemade “stars” from about one meter (yard) behind you, and slightly off to the side, as you look at the constellation from the front of the board (see illustration).

* Viewing the pattern sheet requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded HERE

The lengths of each of the wooden dowels should be as follows: Saiph 9.5 cm Alnilam 20.5 cm Alnitak 20 cm Orion Nebula 15 cm Mintaka 21 cm Rigel 11 cm Betelgeuse 25 cm Bellatrix 23.5 cm