You know those models of the solar system that we had in grade school

[Fritzo]

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Those models that showed the sun, then the planets and moons rotating around them, then you could spin it and everything would orbit around the sun...did those have a name? I keep thinking they were called something, anyone know?

 

[JetsFanatic]

coat hangers and styrofoam

 

[Ogg]

lol

 

[Bullhonkie]

I called it: model of the solar system made out of coat hangers, string, and painted styrofoam balls that you could spin and stuff.

 

[n0cmonkey]

More specific than mobile?

 

[anxman69]

Are you thinking of the word "mobile" ?

-Anx

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
I called it: model of the solar system made out of coat hangers, string, and painted styrofoam balls that you could spin and stuff.

No no no....these were actually mechanical devices with lots of clockwork gears and such in them. I don't think it was called a mobile. You could even set a certain day of the month and see where the planets would be at that time.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I believe that it is a boondoggle or a doohickey.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Is it one of these things?

Antikythera Mechanism
Armillary Sphere
Astrolabe
Astronomical Clock
Planetarium
Praque Orloj
Torquetum
Ephemens

 

[Zysoclaplem]

May'be an orrery?

 

[Bullhonkie]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
I called it: model of the solar system made out of coat hangers, string, and painted styrofoam balls that you could spin and stuff.

No no no....these were actually mechanical devices with lots of clockwork gears and such in them. I don't think it was called a mobile. You could even set a certain day of the month and see where the planets would be at that time.

Oooh ok, never seen those. We only had the basic crude coat hanger and string ones.

 

[thirdlegstump]

I used to call them colorful balls on wire.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
I called it: model of the solar system made out of coat hangers, string, and painted styrofoam balls that you could spin and stuff.

No no no....these were actually mechanical devices with lots of clockwork gears and such in them. I don't think it was called a mobile. You could even set a certain day of the month and see where the planets would be at that time.

You mean a Brietling?

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
May'be an orrery?

That's what I come up with.
link


software versions

 

[DnetMHZ]

THE BIG YELLOW ONE IS THE SUN!!!

 

[Fritzo]

An orrery!!!!!!! That's it!!!!! :beer: x 10