What is Astrojax?

It is essentially 3 weighted foam balls attached by a piece of string with the middle ball freely moving. Although it sounds quite simple, the construction of Astrojax is very sophisticated. Incorrect spellings include Astro-Jax, Astrojacks, and Asto-Jacks.

Each Astrojax ball has a high-density precision-machined metal weight to provide maximum performance and smooth action while playing Astrojax. The fast spinning motion of the Astrojax balls is based on the physical principles of rotational dynamics.

Astrojax is an entirely new breed of toy, a revolutionary concept with possibilities we are only just starting to understand. Every day Astrojax players around the world are discovering new tricks and exciting moves no one thought were possible. And word is spreading fast that Astrojax is what the real thrill seekers are now playing - a game all about action, rhythm and your own personal style.

Astrojax is a fascinating toy illustrating a wide variety of basic science principles.

PLANETARY/ORBITAL MOTION
During vertical orbits the outer Astrojax ball orbits around the middle Astrojax ball. However, just as with the orbital motion of the earth and moon, neither Astrojax ball is still - both Astrojax balls are in motion. During horizontal orbits, both Astrojax balls orbit in perfect circles. Our earth orbits around the sun and our moon orbits around the earth in ellipses which are not quite circular, but close!

ROTATIONAL DYNAMICS
A metal weight concentrates the mass at the center of the middle Astrojax ball. This allows the middle Astrojax ball to spin rapidly. (A diver uses the same principle when she tucks into a ball during a dive so she can spin faster. Similarly, an ice skater uses this principle when he brings in his arms during a twirl to spin faster.) Because the middle Astrojax ball can spin rapidly, the string never tangles around the middle Astrojax ball!

FRICTION
During horizontal orbits the middle ball does not slide on the string, so energy is not lost to friction. This is why horizontal orbits last a long time without any hand motion. However, during vertical orbits the center Astrojax ball does slide up and down on the string. (If you listen closely you can hear it sliding.) Therefore energy is lost to friction, and vertical orbits require tugs of the hand to add energy to sustain the orbits.

CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
As the velocity of the horizontal orbits increases, the string attached to the end Astrojax ball becomes more and more horizontal. As the string becomes more horizontal, it can exert more inwards force on the end Astrojax ball. This illustrates that the inward force required to produce circular orbits increases as the velocity of the orbits increases.

There are many Astrojax products. Click on the item below to learn more.

Astrojax Saturn

Astrojax Blue Diamond Saturn

Astrojax Plus

Astrojax V-Max

Astrojax Tuning Kit

Astrojax Trick CD

Astrojax Trick CD Volume 2

Astrojax Jewel Case

Astrojax Saturn Energy Pack

Learn Basic Astrojax Playing Tricks

Vertical Orbits
Vertical orbits arise naturally through regular up-and-down Astrojax motions, one small bounce of the hand per orbit. Notice how the Astrojax orbits feel: each upwards hand motion should correspond to when the tension of the Astrojax string is greatest.Vertical Astrojax orbits can be performed parallel or perpendicular to the body. Both varieties will be needed for the Astrojax tricks described later.

Horizontal Orbits
Also called the helicopter - a basic Astrojax move which allows for some difficult variations. Start holding the two Astrojax end balls, one in each hand, shoulder width apart. With circular motions of your hands you can spin the middle Astrojax ball slowly. Don't hit yourself in the chin!! Turn your hands so that you have one hand above and one below. Let go of the Astrojax ball in the bottom hand and continue rotating the upper hand. The Astrojax balls will move in circles. Try to bring it behind your back and transfer it to the other hand - 'around the world!'

Butterfly
When you try this one the first time it might look a little messy. But with some practice you will get a stable butterfly form. Start with vertical orbits then smoothly move your hand left to right. The Astrojax balls will follow making a figure of eight movement. Practise makes perfect. This Astrojax trick looks really impressive when you master it.

Rebound Tricks
Changing the rotation of Astrojax is a useful basic manoeuver. Bounce Astrojax PLUS off the wall, floor, your foot, head or whatever you can think of!

Venus
Start with clockwise vertical Astrojax orbits. Do a large Astrojax orbit so that the outer Astrojax ball passes over your wrist.As the outer Astrojax ball descends and the string slides over your wrist, quickly move your arm upwards and to the right to swing the middle Astrojax ball up and over your wrist. Continue orbiting!

Switch
Practise your vertical Astrojax orbits so that you can get the same size circles every time. After a while you can predict where the bottom Astrojax ball is going to be. Make sure that the bottom Astrojax ball is spinning into your hand from the front. Keep your palm facing the roof with the top Astrojax ball in the middle of your hand. Practise catching the bottom Astrojax ball in your hand first without switching Astrojax balls, when you get good at catching the ball every time then start up with singular switches and train and move on with consecutive switches. This just comes with lots of practice, try two catches and then three, eventually you're up to 100 in no time. Practice, practice, practice!!!

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