Abstract: A suspended galaxy device includes: a drive component, a star component, at least one planet component, and an orbit component. The planet component includes a rotation portion that is transmissively connected to the drive component and rotatable about the star component, a planet holder and a planet model. The orbit component includes at least one annular orbit corresponding to the at least one planet component; and the planet holder is on the rotation portion, and the annular orbit corresponds to a motion track of the planet holder. The planet holder, the annular orbit and the planet model are all magnetic, and are configured such that the planet model is suspended between the planet holder and the annular orbit.

Abstract: An educational monument, comprising a designated geographical area accessible to a general public, a first structure having a first face positioned to receive a solar light beam, an aperture formed through the first structure for projecting the light beam at predetermined times and, a second structure positioned to receive the light beam at a first predetermined time. A third structure positioned to receive the light beam at a second predetermined time. Wherein a transition of the light beam reflects a change in the seasons and an alignment of Earth illustrating a physical representation of the transition at a plurality of successive predetermined times, each respective predetermined time being the same hour on a different day. Wherein a plurality of ellipses are scaled from the receiving wall, accurately representing the scaled orbit of the planets.

Abstract: A visual movement display system including a first annular member; a first coupling element coupled to the first annular member, the first coupling element rotatably coupling the first annular member to a support element, the first coupling element defining a first rotation axis about which the first annular member rotates; a second annular member disposed within the first annular member; a second coupling element coupled to the second annular member, the second coupling element rotatably coupling the second annular member to the first annular member, the second coupling element defining a second rotation axis about which the second annular member rotates; whereby the second rotation axis can be offset in relation to the first rotation axis by a first angle; and a first weight element coupled to the second annular member, whereby the first weight element can be offset in relation to the second rotation axis by a second angle.

Abstract: A therapeutic tool for use with a patient in psychotherapy is provided, the tool includes a central gyroscopic element, a plurality of concentric rings extending around the central gyroscopic element, and a plurality of outer elements removably disposed on the rings and configured to be movable around the rings, wherein the rings are pivotally associated with the gyroscopic ball, and wherein the gyroscopic element is configured to represent a seeing self of the patient and the rings are configured to represent a plurality of subpersonalities of the patient.

Abstract: A planetarium has a planet projection system comprising: a rotatable stage positioned concentrically with a precession axis of a fixed star projection globe and performing an X-axis motion; and a sleeve-type planet projector positioned at an eccentric position with respect to an X axis on the rotatable stage and performing a Y-axis motion for allowing a projection direction to vary upward and downward in relation to the rotatable stage. The X-axis and Y-axis motions are controlled on the basis of values calculated by a planet-movement operation unit receiving date and time data, to project the movement of planets.

Abstract: An interactive astronomical model includes a geocentric module, a heliocentric module, and a housing. The geocentric module has a central body configured to represent Earth. The heliocentric module has a central axis configured to represent the sun. A housing is used to couple both the geocentric module and the heliocentric module. The invention also includes a method for generating an interactive astronomical model comprising the steps of providing a geocentric module having a central body configured to represent Earth, providing a heliocentric module having a central axis configured to represent a sun; and coupling the geocentric module with the heliocentric module with a shared housing. A horizon apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An orrery for teaching a user about the solar system. The orrery includes a generally hollow sphere and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The sphere is generally transparent. Each of plurality of rings has consecutively descending smaller diameter from a largest ring to a smallest ring. A plurality of pair of couplers couple the rings to each other and couple the largest ring to the inner surface of the sphere such that the rings are positioned within each other in order of descending lengths of diameters and are concentric. Each of a plurality of globes represents a planet of the solar system and each is attached to one of the rings such that the globes are extendable along the rings. An orb, being generally coaxial with the smallest ring, is attached to the smallest ring by a plurality of fasteners. The orb represents the sun.

Abstract: An interactive astronomical model includes a geocentric module, a heliocentric module, and a housing. The geocentric module has a central body configured to represent earth. The heliocentric module has a central axis configured to represent the sun. A housing is used to couple both the geocentric module and the heliocentric module. The invention also includes a method for generating an interactive astronomical model comprising the steps of providing a geocentric module having a central body configured to represent earth, providing a heliocentric module having a central axis configured to represent a sun; and coupling the geocentric module with the heliocentric module with a shared housing.

Abstract: An astronomical display apparatus for providing a 3-dimensional view of a plurality of scaled astronomical bodies, wherein the bodies may be elevated (to float) upon a column of air while being slowly rotated. The display apparatus includes a base having an upper, preferably flattened deck surface. The base further includes an air supply inlet tube that is coupled to air cups mounted on the deck surface to enable a source of pressurized air emitted from the air cups to form the columns of air. The apparatus may be provided with several interchangeable deck surfaces wherein each deck surface may represent a distinct collection or grouping of astronomical bodies, such as stars, planets, and or moons.

Abstract: An apparatus for demonstrating various phenomena associated with the earth's movement about the sun, having an upright fixedly attached to a base, at least one arm having two ends and being mounted on the upright in such a way as to be rotatable in a vertical plane, a crooked bearing housing for a spindle located near one of the ends, carrying a rotatable globe and constituting the axis of rotation thereof, all in such a way that, with respect to a line normal to the plane defined by the are, the axis of rotation of the globe is imparted a downward inclination of about 23.5.degree.. The apparatus further includes a light source unit attached to the arm at a point near the other end thereof and producing a light beam of a spatial extent sufficient to fully cover the globe, and drive means for causing the globe to rotate about its own axis, and for causing the arm to rotate in the vertical plane.

Abstract: A motorized scientific demonstrator that simulates the theoretical structure of an atom of various modeled molecules by demonstrating the rotational motion of the electron orbits by being deflected magnetically. Bohr's theoretical atom, which show the placement of the electrons in their respective K, L, M, N, O, P, Q shells, simulate the rotational movement of the electron orbits.

Abstract: A hypersurface orbital model is presented that orbits a ball on a surface called a hypersurface. A stepper motor drive arrangement, with two-degrees of freedom, is used to change the hypersurface viewed by the ball as a function of time. System control is added to ensure that the ball will orbit in the proper orbit. Control consists of a stepper motor, a clock, a solenoid launcher and various logical circuits. Counters keep track of the period so that the exact rotational speed can be referenced to set the ball launcher.

Abstract: A device for simulating the movements of and representing rotation symmetrical bodies, such as planets, particularly for use in planetaria, comprising a reflecting member centrally inserted between two illumination systems. The reflecting member is provided with two reflecting faces carrying a step arrangement and including an angle of 90.degree. with one another. Each of the reflecting faces includes an angle of 45.degree. with an optical axis and lies in an intermediate plane into which slide photos of bodies to be reproduced are imaged. The reflecting member is displaceably and tiltably arranged and is followed by an image fusing lens. Furthermore, adjacent to the slide photos occulting members are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosed planetarium with both fluorescent and phosphorescent painted representations of astronomical bodies, some of the representations may be mobile and rotated and the remainder of the representations may be painted on the inside surface of the enclosure. An ultraviolet light source is provided which upon activation illuminates all of the representations, but upon extinguishment only the phosphorescent painted representations continue to be visible. This provides two different displays both of which have the pleasing effect of ultraviolet illumination.

Abstract: An orrery for displaying planetary representations is provided. The orrery has a frame and a plurality of concentric hollow tubes rotatably mounted on the frame. First and second ends of each of the tubes extend axially beyond first and second ends respectively of the outwardly adjacent tube. A plurality of supports are provided each for connecting at an inner end thereof to the first end of one of the tubes so as to extend radially outward from it. Each of a plurality of bayonnet plug and socket means removably connect the inner end of one of the support means to the first end of one of the tubes. Planetary body representations are each connected to a position on one of the supports remote from the tube to which that support is connected. A drive mechanism connected to a second end of each of the tubes rotates each of the tubes.