MOON is the first topographically accurate moon globe. The project involves the use of the latest data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter combined with advanced electronic and mechanical engineering alongside modern technology in mold making.
Design meets technology meets science meets art.
The results are a truly accurate 1/20 million replica of the Moon with surface features in every detail. A ring of LEDs revolves around the globe, constantly illuminating the correct face of the moon surface and recreating the lunar phases as seen from Earth.
MOON is the result of a four years long project led by Oscar Lhermitte with Kudu. Countless prototypes and testing has been carried out in the design process. Oscar Lhermitte was in charge of mapping the surface of the Moon in 3D and of the overall design. Kudu was in charge of the mechanical parts and electronic engineering that mimics the Sun and Moon’s movement by precisely controlling the motion of the light.
To create the lunar globe, Oscar contacted the team at the Institute of Planetary Research, and they gave him access to their database. The data used are DTM (Digital Terrain Model) and are constructed from moon images. The images were then worked on to achieve the correct scale of terrain and make it spherical. One full Moon map was 3D printed to become the MOON Master (the one the molds are then made from). They used an industrial nylon printer, with a layer thickness of 100 microns. The globes are rotocasted from hard polyurethane resin. Each of them is pigmented to get a ‘concrete’ moon-like color.
To make the LED ring rotate in sync with the actual Moon phases, Kudu mimicked the Sun and Moon’s real-time path by building and coding a custom computer that precisely controls the motion of the light. Its software and gearing system make sure it is perfectly in sync with the real-time lunar phase.
The MOON computer has the same memory as the Apollo 11 computers that landed the first men on the Moon.
More info: kickstarter.com
