Using spherical LCD displays (or alternatively, displays made like the New Year's Ball in Times Square), create a model of the Solar System where each sphere shows on its surface images of its respective planet.

Feed the latest images from NASA or simulate it with previously recorded images of the surfaces.

Order some extra spheres in case any more planets suddenly drop in
-- theircompetitor, Mar 26 2004

Inspirational idea http://www.halfbake...to_20Update_20Globe
[theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004]

Buy it (soon) on Amazon http://www.amazon.c...102-5937860-3195300
[theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004]

I'm not sure what you mean. The Crystal Sphere name is used for cuteness.

I'm talking about a solar system model were each crystal ball is a planet, not the whole Aristotlean or was it Platonian notion.

Like the link but with displays instead of opaque balls.
-- theircompetitor, Mar 26 2004


So, in other words, 9 lcd surfaced globes??
-- my-nep, Mar 26 2004


Surely projected still images will suffice. The surface features don't change that quickly.
-- waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004


[my-nep] yes, orbiting as they're supposed to, sized to scale, etc.

Imagine your basement. You call your significant other down you say, honey, look what I brought home. You turn off the light.

She/he opens the door, walks down, and there, in the darkness, in the middle of the glowing Solar system, there you stand, a splitting image of Carl Sagan...
-- theircompetitor, Mar 27 2004


And you need a microscope to see the surface features on the planets, if you can find them, or you have a

really

big

basement.
-- oxen crossing, Mar 27 2004


[oxen] which I do so it's not a problem.
-- theircompetitor, Mar 27 2004



random, halfbakery