Today, we have the fortune to live in the golden age of space discovery and exploration. Who has not been thrilled by an epic event like the first flight of the Ingenuity drone on Mars? With the immensity of the galaxy, or the enchantment of exploring unknown worlds, the Solar System, astronauts, and space missions, when it comes to the universe, we adults become a bit like a child.

Raising our eyes to the sky on a starry night is enough to feel overwhelmed by the magic of the universe. Are there other forms of life? Can humans live on other planets? What are the stars made of? What is the difference between a planet and a satellite? Is there traffic on the Milky Way? How big is the universe? The questions that space raises in us are at least as many as the stars in the galaxy. Science can answer some of those, but in most cases, it can only put forward hypotheses that stimulate physicists and sci-fi writers to imagine theories. After all, we only know part of the universe: it would not be infinite if we could explore it far and wide.

But, although outer space still hides so many mysteries, it is instructive, challenging, and fun to discuss stars, constellations, planets, dark matter, and nebulae. Even more so, if we do it with an exciting, colourful and progressive pastime like the Hape Solar System puzzle. With its unmistakable round shape and a central sun that lights up, this puzzle will keep children aged five and up entertained for hours, sparking tons of astronomical curiosities.

With a puzzle like this, fun is written in the stars

Do you believe the Earth is gigantic? Think that, compared to the whole universe, it is so tiny that the Sun could contain 1.3 million Earths. Let’s see some more numbers: our planet is 4.5 billion years old. Pretty old, isn’t it? Well, compared to the universe – which is 13.5 billion years old – it is a little more like a teenager.

If you feel small and insignificant, think about it. There are more stars in the universe than sand grains on all the beaches of the Earth. And you will probably feel even smaller! Numbers are out of the world: scientists say that there may be a billion trillion stars in the universe!

After all, the cosmos is constantly expanding, getting bigger every second. So, it is impossible not only to reach its borders but also to identify its center. These and many other curiosities await you and your children on the poster with the Fun Facts About the Space attached to the Hape Solar System Puzzle.

Hape Solar System Puzzle: features and accessories

The first striking thing about the Solar System puzzle is its original circular shape, a differential from competitors. Like all Hape puzzles, this one also features modern and captivating graphics, animated by cute characters with which children can identify in their imaginary space trip. Not only astronauts but also funny extraterrestrials that will help children to imagine life on other planets and let their imagination run wild.

Brightly coloured stars, planets, and meteorites do enlighten the midnight-blue background. But there is more: once all the pieces have found their place, it is time for magic! Just put the hemispherical sun with integrated LED lighting at the center of the puzzle, and enjoy the special effects of your solar system. Besides, the wooden planets can rotate on the illustrated base to make the game even more entertaining. To complete the fun and the discovering, read lots of information and curiosities about space in the attached sheet.

Hape Solar System Puzzle includes:

  • 100 cardboard puzzle tilesto assemble;
  • 8 independent wooden hemispherical planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which can go on top of the puzzle to simulate the movements of rotation and revolution;
  • a hemispherical central sunwith integrated LED lighting to place in the center of the set to make children understand the role of this bright star within the solar system;
  • a double-sided posterpacked with extra information about the solar system and the different planets.

An original puzzle set in space that lights up the imagination

Is there life in the universe? Well, there is some movement on a Saturday night, an old joke said. Compared to the little we know about the cosmos as a whole, we have more information about the Solar System. For example, we know that eight planets orbit around our hot gas star: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The largest is Jupiter, while Mercury is the smallest – unless you consider the dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea, which are even tinier. The galaxy we are in is called the Milky Way. That’s right, but do not expect to find extraterrestrial cows grazing around or house numbers on planets!

How can you not unleash your imagination when it comes to space? This matter is so fascinating that always raises new questions. And then, as soon as you seem to have understood one aspect, you inevitably realize there are so many other things you still do not know.

Such an exciting topic cannot but arouse the interest of our children! Besides, there are rockets, astronauts, extraterrestrials: how can anyone not want to know more?

Through play, our children can penetrate the mysteries of the universe and the science that studies them through a privileged way of access. Hape knows this well, which is why it dedicates several toys to our budding scientists. Among them, the Solar System puzzle is one of the most fascinating and fun. It combines the challenge of a colourful, detailed, round-shaped puzzle with a little bit of technology and the fun of space exploration to share with the whole family.

All children curious about the cosmos will find the Hape Solar System puzzle with built-in LED light a fun pastime and a source of accurate information. An evolved puzzle, with an original shape, and brilliant graphic, for children aged five and over to learn many complex notions through their favourite activity: play!