Working Model - Sun, Earth and Moon

Explore key events like phases of moon, Eclipse, zodiac transition with the help of this mechanical model.


Let us understand various events associated with Sun, Earth and moon with the help of a model.

Model is built with small balls, beads and lots of gears. Let us assume that we are way up in the sky and observing these objects from a pole star. Earth revolves around the Sun, not in clockwise direction but in anti clockwise direction.

During this journey around the Sun, it also rotates around its own axis. This axis is not straight but slightly tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees like this. This tilt is the reason we have seasons on Earth.


Just like it's revolutions around the Sun, Earth also rotates in anti-clockwise direction around it-self. One complete rotation around itself takes 24 hours while one complete revolution around Sun is finished in 365 days or 1 year. Let's take help of this dial so that position of Earth can be referenced as it revolves.



There are numerous stars around our solar system. These were grouped by our ancestors for easier identification. Also know as constellations. There are many but 12 are most important. These constellations mark out the path that Sun appears to take throughout the year.



Mostly known to us as Zodiac signs. Circle is divided into 12 equal parts. One part per zodiac sign.

This outer ring has months marked on it as per Gregorian calendar. Useful while discussing Seasons.


Zodiac signs are arranged like this… Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

And months as January, February, March, April, May….



Let's move Earth by hand in steps and study orientation of axis as it revolves around the Sun. Front view is better for this instead of top view


This imaginary line represents Equator. It divides Earth in two equal parts. Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere.

Let us start with 21st June.

21st June is the longest day in Northern hemisphere. North pole is at its nearest point towards Sun on this day. Hence this part gets more sunlight. Longest day and shortest night.


Exactly opposite situation is there in the southern hemisphere. Longest night and shortest day .


It's also known as summer solstice.

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