Moonlight Reflector for the Full Moon Theatre Project

Francesco Anselmo has developed something truly extraordinary: a moonlight reflector capable of capturing and concentrating the light of the full moon. Using one of our PMMA mirror panels here at PlasticSheetsShop, he built the Hypatia reflector – an integral part of the Full Moon Theatre project. This ambitious initiative aims to enable open-air theatre performances illuminated solely by moonlight – entirely without electricity.

The project

Francesco is contributing to the Full Moon Theatre project, a dream that began over 30 years ago. Its goal? To create an open air theatre illuminated solely by the light of the moon. In March 2023, the original international team of physicists, engineers, and artists reignited this incredible vision.

At the heart of the project are parabolic reflectors designed to collect and concentrate moonlight directly onto the stage. Francesco successfully built a working prototype of the Hypatia reflector, named in honour of Hypatia, the renowned 4th century astronomer and mathematician. This inventive reflector focuses the faint glow of the moon and can even make colours visible in the dark.

A step-by-step guide

steps

  1. Get the right materials

    To start, you’ll need a PMMA mirror panel, the perfect material for reflecting moonlight. Make sure the sheet is large enough to collect the amount of light you need.

  2. Design your parabolic shape

    Sketch out the shape of your reflector on the panel. A parabolic form ensures that the light is focused on a single point.

  3. Shape your reflector

    Carefully bend the PMMA mirror panel into the desired parabolic shape. Go slowly to avoid cracks.

  4. Test your reflector

    Find a dark area on a bright full moon night. Position your reflector towards the moon and observe where the light is concentrated.

  5. Refine your design

    Adjust the shape and angle until you achieve the best result. It requires patience – capturing moonlight is a precision process.

Francesco’s tips

“Capturing moonlight isn’t easy. You’ll need patience, determination, and a little bit of luck. Work in a dark setting, far away from city lights. Make sure the sky is clear on a full moon night and ensure there’s little to no wind so your reflector stays stable. The moon also needs to be in the right position in the sky – not too low or too high.”