What could I use to make a 3-D model of the Solar System?
494425
You can buy kits at places like Hobby Lobby, but you can do way better on your own. I used the information in the links below to make a scale model where I used a basket ball for the Sun and various pin heads and acorns for the planets. The first link below is an on line calculator that will tell you how big to make the planets and how far apart to place them if you just enter the size you want to make the Sun. I bet you are surprised at how small and far apart the planets really are!
603543
Try this open source 3D engine.  It's open source, so it's free:   http://www.ogre3d.org/
1097346
You might want to use some pictures of the Earth taken from space contrasted with pictures of how people described the earth centuries ago...\nFor this, you may want to use the NASA's website: www.nasa.gov...and for the old views by searching in googles-images...Here I am giving you a link: \nwww. melbourneobservatory.com ...\n\nFor the diverse environments, you might present pictures of the Poles, the Tropical Jungles, the different Mountains from the different continents....Just to give a little splash of colour....You can also add some satellite pictures of Earth or from different places that you want to show in your project...For that, use the Google Earth....It will provide you with amazing pictures of wherever you want...To make it even cooler, try to zoom in the places you are seen and after copy the pictures, print them and use them...It will amaze your teacher and classmates...\n\nGood luck
880734
Well, the first cheap (as in free) 3D modeling program that comes to my mind is Blender, which is available for several platforms. However, you may or may not find the interface kinda weird to use, depending on what you've used before.
143281
Some good info can be found here, including a simulated Astrolabe: www.rogivue.com\nAlso Wikipedia has lots of info!
855855
JUST MAKE A 3D-MODEL OF A PRISM OUT OF A CARDBOARD OR THERMACOL
865675
You may need to do the scale model in reverse - that is, decide on the size you want the sun to be and then make the planets accordingly.  These sites may help you.
86975
You can try Irrilicht or Ogre. Search for them using yahoo search engine. You should also have some knowledge about 3D programming.
680640
Ask the designer of the Solar System he probably know.
865909
Use clay and then you'll be able to form the 3d shapes
583382
Try the moebius spiral. It's pretty interesting because it's non orientable. \n\nIt's 3d (2 parameters s and t) and described by the parametrized vector components:\n\n[3*cos(s)+t*sin(s/2),\n3*sin(s),\nt*cos(s/2)]\n\n(every component of the vector in a new line)\n\nThe parameter ranges are:\n\ns=-2*Pi...2*Pi,t=-1..1\n\nMAPLE INSTRUCTIONS TO PLOT IT:\n\nwith(plots);\nplot3d([3*cos(s)+t*sin(s/2),3*sin(s),t*cos(s/2)],s=-2*Pi...2*Pi,t=-1..1);\n\nSorry, that instruction is big and not displayed well, but I guess since you know the parametrized vector you can find it.\n\nWHAT DO YOU WANT IT FOR? WANT TO PUBLISH ANYTHING?
69221
Google Earth is fast becoming one of the most popular tools for doing this sort of thing. You can see the entire globe in 3D and a lot of it is in fairly high resolution. See the link below to download it.
116216
My dad helped me do the solar system in a big cardboard box, with fishing line, styrofoam balls, paint and construction paper. Inexpensive and I got an A+++++!!! We hung the styrofoam planets from the top of the inside of the box after we painted them and decorated the inside of the box with a black background and it was cool! bradnmich@bellsouth.net
511729
http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001035.html\nhttp://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_527.html\nhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4012/vol3/table4.123.htm\nhttp://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/Programs/intelsat.html\n\nFrom these photos and data, you should be able to make your diagrams.
711904
Blender is a good free 3d modeling program. So is Anim8tor.
342754
you could also try a program called Blender, its from some collage and its free. it's shoudn't be too hard to find. \nlook at www.blender3d.org
326416
some ideas of what you could make the model from:\n\nstyrofoam\nclay with rocks\nlegos\npaper mache (shape your wall then take strips of newspapers dipped in glue and water mix and cover it..you can paint it when it dries)\nyou could use small boxes or cut up cereal boxes..and then paint them. \n\nor you could get really wacky and make it out of those little take out containers...or noodles..and shellac them. use your imagination!\n\nyou could even make a really tiny model and then build a model of a rocket that is larger..to show that it can be seen from space!