Holiday light displays like Galaxy Lights might feel magical, but the creation of these incredible pieces of festive art are actually based in science and engineering! As someone with a mechanical engineering degree myself, I couldn’t resist diving into the tech behind the lights.
LED Lights
Thousands of carefully planned feet of wires and cables, and approximately 3 million lights make up the Galaxy Lights exhibits. The 200-foot LED light tunnel alone is made of more than 250,000 lights!
Many exhibits like this are able to be created thanks to electrical engineers and designers working with light-emitting diode (LED) lights. These lights use much less electricity and release substantially less heat than more traditional incandescent holiday lights.
The quick description of how LED lights work is that they are illuminated by the movement of tiny particles known as electrons in a specific type of material when electricity passes through them. On a deeper level, diodes contain two semiconductor materials side by side, one with a negative charge and one with a positive charge. The electric current causes electrons to move from the negative side to the positive side, and from the positive side to the negative side. During this process known as electroluminescence, they make the beautiful light we see in the holiday displays!
Coding
If you’ve ever watched a holiday light show set to music, like the 40-foot crystal fireworks show at Galaxy Lights, you also have computer code to thank. While lights that stay on constantly can be controlled by a sample on/off switch, ones that need to activate or change color at a specific moment need instructions to tell them what to do.
This is where computer code comes in. On computer software, lighting show designers are able to create light art, sending commands that control each light in time with the music. Think of it as a digital conductor pointing at each light bulb that it wants to turn on at the right moment. Since the code and commands remain the same each time the code is run, it ensures that the light show looks identical each time.
So if you enjoyed the show the first time, be sure to come back for an identical encore performance!
Digital Design
Many holiday light displays also involve some impressive sculpting. One way that these structures are designed is through Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. These tools allow engineers and designers to digitally sculpt and plan the shapes before they are physically made.
The team at Bright Lights who designs the Galaxy Lights exhibits uses Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, alongside the CAD software SketchUp.
This year I also partnered with Space Center Houston to make my own creation in a CAD software for Galaxy Lights. And it’s one that you can even download and 3D print at home!
I created a space inspired holiday ornament inspired by the idea of a 3D space mission patch. It features a rocket blasting off in front of a snowflake design, perfect for outer space and winter fans in your life.
I originally learned the CAD software SolidWorks while I was getting my mechanical engineering degree, and I’ve loved using it for both engineering and artistic purposes since then. The ornament is a celebration of combining art, engineering, and science! 100 of these were 3D printed for the Galaxy Lights kickoff event, but you can also make your own!
You can get the 3D printable .STL file here to make on your school or home 3D printer.
If you want to see more about the design process, you can watch my behind-the-scenes video on Instagram here.
Additionally, if you want to check out some incredible engineering and holiday light art for yourself, use code LIGHTSEWA for $5 off Galaxy Lights Admission! Redeem online with or in person now through 01/05/25 and receive $5 off regular adult, senior or child Space Center Houston Galaxy Lights Admission. Limit six (6) people per coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Children 3 and younger are admitted free.
Happy holidays!
Sources:
https://www.energy.gov/articles/how-do-holiday-lights-work
https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/led.htm
Guest Contributor: Erin Winick Anthony, Founder of STEAM Power Media & Digital Storyteller
