This is a big year for nerds like us who love anything and everything SPACE. Project Hail Mary took over cinemas last month, featuring Ryan Gosling having to science his way out of his interplanetary problems in that classic Andy Weir fashion. And then of course, there’s the ongoing Artemis II mission. Right now, four astronauts have slingshot their way around the moon and are on their way back. They now hold the record for being the furthest away from Earth any humans have ever reached, forging new frontiers in space on behalf of all humanity. How cool is that?
If you or your kid can’t get enough of our solar system at the moment, keep the excitement going with this LEGO Technic set of Planet Earth and our Moon in orbit around the Sun. The interactive model is normally sold for $75, but for a limited time, you can scoop it up for 15% off. That brings its down to just $64.
Education Made Fun
For kids (and adults, let’s be real) ages 10 and up, this interactive LEGO Technic set when put together depicts our sun, Sol, in the center. On a long arm jutting off of it is our home, the Earth. Then protruding right nearby that is the Earth’s Moon, of which astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are becoming intimately familiar with on their Artemis II mission.
This set as a lot more going on than just three spheres. The 526 pieces in total, gears and all, end up creating a fully interactive model of how the Moon orbits around the Earth and, in turn, how the Earth orbits around the Sun. The little crank on the side of the base turns, which allows the Earth model to circle the Sun, all while the Moon model orbits it. The distances are absolutely not to scale, but it’s still a fun depiction of how a little piece of our solar system operates.
Even beyond that, the base has printed months along the side so you see how our orbit looks at any given time in the year. It also showcases the moon phases further enhance understanding. It’s really a nifty educational tool that’s also fun to play with.
Use the LEGO Builder app to help make the build even easier. View each step with a 3D digital version so you can get a better look at some of those weird angles that don’t print well in the instruction booklet. You can zoom in and rotate the model around even bookmark your progress so you can walkaway and come back later to complete your build.