Blood Moon Simulation

We have created a blood moon vs. regular moon simulation where students are able to observe the physical differences between a typical blood moon and a regular full moon. There are on and off buttons for both, where you can easily toggle between the two modes. While some may not have the capability to observe a blood moon in person, we hoped to bring a model of it to them.

Circuit Python

Circuit Playground Bluefruit

Adafruit MPR121 touch sensor

4 small screws

4 alligator clips

Cotton Balls (around 30)

Copper Foil tape

Saw (i used Japanese saw)

Sturdy Slim wooden Stick

Mod Podge

Styrofoam Ball

Two clear bowls (each was 7.8 in wide and 3 in high)

Paint

Paint Brush

Hot glue

Wood Glue

Laser Printer

Laptop

USB to micro USB Data Cable

Safety glasses

Photoshop

Trotec Ruby

MakerCase

Sheet of 1/8" plywood

Sheet of 1/8" acrylic

Led light string

Led Light string to CPB adaptor

Soldering Iron/machine

To create a box big enough where the stars and label will sit, we used MakerCase to plan out the outline. We estimated that about 5 by 5 dimensions should be enough space.

On MakeCase, we used a polygon box shape and added finger joins to it. The size of the finger joins is not as important, however, bigger may be easier to adhere together.

After saving the layout of the box, we imported it to photoshop. Here, make sure to select all and ensure the color selected is true red (ff0000) and that the stroke is 0.01mm.

Once that is complete, save it as an AI so the size remains intact.

Open the file in Trotec connected to a laser printer and follow the steps listed to print out the box. For Trotec, make sure to fit to design and focus the laser printer onto where you want it to start cutting. On Trotec, move the image to that the upper left corner is aligned with the laser printer arrow. Select material and print. We used 1/8" birchwood.

To print an acrylic star (we need 4), we will also be using the laser printer and Trotec Ruby. Once again, we can go back to photoshop and create a star shape (which will be located on the left).

Make sure the outside is outlines in true red and the inside is white.

We decided upon 3 in stars (from point to point)

Transfer the file to Trotec. Once here, you can delete the white inner star layer (as there will be two layers —the outline and the inside).

Once again, fit to design and focus the laser.

For material, we selected 1/8" acrylic.

Print 4 stars.

Using the copper pictured in the materials step, or any other copper tape, cover the front of each star. While foil may be used, it oxidizes quickly and will only be viable for short term experimentation.

It should look like the image above.

Do the same for all 4 stars.

For this step, we need 8 labels: ON, ON, OFF, OFF, BLOOD, MOON, REGULAR, and MOON.

Instead of going through photoshop, for this step we can simply write out the words in Trotec as a text box.

The outside of the box will be red (to be cut out) and the inside will be Black (for engraving).

You can use any acrylic material desired.

For the ON/OFF labels, we used a height of 0.5" and a width of 1.2".

For the Blood and Moon x2 we used a width of 1.2" and height of 0.5".

For the Regular, we used a width of 1.6" and height of 0.5".

These wholes will be used for the alligator clips to be attached to the front of the star so that it is reactive.

The width was .65in and the height was 1in. We located it about 3.5 inches down from the top of the box. The cut out was from 3.5 in to 4.5 relative to the measurements of the sides of our box (height was 5 in). It should be tilted to that the top left edge of the cutout was around .8in into the left side of the box side.

We also used the laser printer's side measuring tape to guide us.

Now we cut the wooden stick to fit the inside of the box.

Since the sides are 5in, we marked the 5in on the stick.

We then estimated how much of the top of the stick will be going into the styrofoam ball and made another marketing.

Then, using something to hold the stick in place, we used a Japanese saw to saw the excess of the stick off.

Now we need a entrance for stick and led string wires to enter, as the CPB and touch sensors will be located at the bottom of the box.

We measured that a diameter of 1.35in whole would be comfortable for the wires to enter and still provide enough space to hot glue the bowl to the top of the box. Mark the circle.

Using a soldering iron, we heated it up to 600 deg f and melted the area inside the marked circle.

Now we have out whole.

First separate each cotton ball so that it is thin and long.

Using Mod Podge, we painted the inside of the bowl with a brush and stuck the seperated cotton balls on the wet paint.

Mod Podge drys clear and provides a way to stick the cotton balls on the inside of the bowls without having any residue.

Do this for both bowls and be sure to keep the whole previously created clear of cotton.

Using a brush and black paint, we painted all sides of the box black (for a galaxy theme). Any other color is also fine.

Let dry.

Optional (sprinkle gold paint onto the box).

Using wood glue, glue the box together and make sure the glue is on the inside, not the outside.

Do not glue the top cover of the box yet.

Using hot glue, glue the labels onto the side.

We places on/off labels on the bottom and blood, moon, and regular on the top.

We also placed the on labels under blood and regular and the off labels under the moon labels.

There will be one side of the box where there will be no labels.

To have the lights stable in the bowl, we hot glued the lights onto the ball (any other method is optional).

Make sure lights adaptor is connect to lights.

Insert the ball and lights into the bowl, making sure the stick and adaptor cords are out of the bottom whole.

Add hot glue to the rims of one bowl and place the edges of the other bowl on the glue.

Add light pressure.

Place CPB and Touch sensor into the box.

Connect the alligator clips to the touch sensor.

According to our code, 8 is on for the blood moon.

7 is off for blood moon.

4 is on for regular moon.

3 is off for regular moon.

Attach the other side of the alligator clips to the outside of the stars.

Connect the CPB to a battery pack, having the wires inside the box and the battery pack outside the box (preferably near the blank black side).

Put the lid of the box through the adaptor cords and wooden stick so that it is touching the bottom of the bowl.

Hot glue the bottom flat part of the bowl to the lid of the box.

Hot glue the wooden stick to bottom of the box, clear of the wires.

Place hot glue around fingers of the lid and the sides of the box for stability.

Place hot glue on the side opposite to where the switch is. Be sure 3 AA batteries are inside.

Glue the battery pack to plain black side of box.

If you would like, you may use the remaining wooden stick to create a flag to place on top of moon.

We used a similar method to printing the labels (only used a different color of acrylic).

If interested, we did on Trotec, a red outline with "CAMPUS SCHOOL @ BC" typed in black. The dimensions was 1.5" by 2.5". Still using 1/8" acrylic.

Hot glue to top of upper bowl.