How to Make a Starry Sky Ceiling

Create an awe-inspiring night sky.

Create a relaxing space that inspires imagination with a starry sky ceiling. Whether installed in the bedroom of a child or an adult, a ceiling filled with glowing stars will give the inhabitant of the bedroom the feeling of sleeping outside under the night sky. Mimic the shapes of key constellations to give the space an authentic look. When the lights go out, the inhabitant of this space will be dazzled by these glowing stars.

Things You'll Need

• Constellation map
• Glow-in-the-dark stars (self-adhesive or nonstick stars with removable adhesive strips)

Instructions

1. Print out a constellation map (see Resources). This map will serve as a guide for creating constellations on the ceiling.

2. Select the constellations that you want to feature on your ceiling. Some of the major constellations are ideal, as they are easy to spot: the Big Dipper, Orion and Cassiopeia, for example.

3. Decide where you want to place the constellations.

4. Create one constellation at a time. Refer to the constellation map and place the stars on the ceiling following the pattern of the constellation. After completing one constellation, move on to another one until all of the constellations you want to feature are placed on the ceiling.

5. Fill in empty spaces on the ceiling with random stars. Just as the night sky features stars that aren't parts of constellations, so too should your starry sky ceiling. Arrange the extra stars until you are satisfied with the look of the ceiling.

Resources

• Kids Astronomy: Free Sky Map/Planosphere