The Milky Way Galaxy Craft: Where are we in the Galaxy?

This craft shows two prominent spiral arms of the Milky Way. You will build a simple electral circuit that highlights the position of our solar system relative to the center of the Milky Way.

Materials:

• Legal size (8.5"x14") card stock. Regular 8.5"x11" is OK
• Gold-colored Copper foil tape, 1/4 inch wide, with double-sided conductivity
• 2 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in two different colors (same color is OK). These LEDs should include internal resistors.
• 1 CR2032 Li-ion cell battery about 1 inch in diameter, +3V
• Black electrical tape, 3/4 inch wide

Instructions:

1. Print the Milky Way on card stock.
2. Cut about 15 inches of the fold-colored Copper foil tape.
3. cut about 1 inch of black electrical tape, 3/4 inch wide.
4. Follow the instructions on the front of the printed Milky Way card stock
5. Push the battery down onto the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way; LEDs will light.
6. Discover where you are in the Milky Way!

Contact
Glen I Langston, (703) 292-4937, glangsto@nsf.gov