DE ORBITIS PLANETARUM

The Poetry of Planetary Movement

Fall 2023

Courses: Project Development | Digital Fabrication

Instructors: Pedro Oliveira | Daniel Rozin

Partner: Yuxiang Cheng

‘De Orbitis Planetarum’

is an artistic installation that distills the grand motions of the Solar System into a scaled-down tableau of movement and light.

Within this piece, each planet, alongside the Sun, is intricately rendered through eight layers of laser-cut and 3D-printed gears. These represent the planetary orbits, crafted to mesmerize and invite introspection. Translucent acrylic planes, etched with the orbits of planets from Mercury to Neptune, are set into motion by a central shaft, driven at a stately 2 RPM by a high-torque gear motor—mirroring the celestial bodies' graceful pace through the cosmos.

The installation is bathed in the warm, life-suggesting glow of LED backlighting, simulating the Sun's nurturing radiance. A handcrafted wooden frame of maple and birch houses this display, with a naturally occurring knot creating a 'window' for viewers to delve into the intricacies of the work. This intentional design feature not only infuses an organic aesthetic but also fosters an intimate interaction, offering a glimpse into the layered cosmic dance.

Beneath this is a robust, custom-shaped concrete pedestal, its 400-pound mass providing a grounding contrast to the ethereal composition above. Its raw texture symbolizes the vast, stoic expanse of the universe. In parallel, the acrylic embodies the human desire to harness and understand the celestial mysteries. The wooden enclosure, resonant with vitality, forges a connection between the concrete expanse of the cosmos and the crafted ingenuity of human artifice. This visual and material juxtaposition underpins the overarching themes of the piece: a harmonious balance between the natural and the synthetic, the austere void of space and the vibrant pulse of life, culminating in an interplay of elements that forms a unified whole.

‘De Orbitis Planetarum’ extends beyond a mere representation of the solar system; it is a profound reflection on the interplay of celestial and terrestrial realms, prompting us to contemplate our place within the vast tapestry of the universe.