LEGO Technic Orrery | Working Solar System Model

Orreries are models of our solar system that show the motions or bodies such as planets and moons.

Since ancient times, working models of astronomical bodies have been constructed, such as the Antikythera mechanism from 150–100 BC, which showed the Earth at the center of the solar system and included the Sun, moon, and 5 planets. Other clockwork models were made later based on the motion of planets, and as the scientific revolution's influence spread, more intricate and accurate orreries were constructed. Orreries became so advanced that in the late 18th century, the Franeker Planetarium was built with an enormous orrery mounted on the ceiling, and its components moved in real time with celestial bodies.

This LEGO orrery isn't quite that advanced, but it was built with compactness and accuracy in mind. That is why the revolution of the LEGO Earth takes 360 "days", which is about 1.4% away from the real value of 365.25 days per year. Likewise, the moon's revolution of 28 "days" is about 2.5% away from the true value of 27.3 days per revolution.

I hope you enjoy!

[eliotlong]

Check the description for more information on orreries and this build!