Mova Globes

[Home] [Categories] [Designers & Craftsmen] [Articles] [Books] [Search] [Misc] [Site Map] [What's New] [Puzzle Index]

Traditional Blue
$99 + $11 Priority Mail

Blue-Green Relief
$99 + $11 Priority Mail

Antique
Special Order

Black & Silver
Special Order

See
Inside!

See larger photographs below

Mova Globes will operate virtually anywhere indoors with an average room light and no batteries, wires, or maintenance of any kind. It comes with an elegant three-finger stand, but will operate on any stand or surface of your choice, except for ones made of iron or metal alloy that can be magnetized.

When you pick one of these up, it will immediately remind you of the "eye balls" that always looks up no matter how fast you turn the outer sphere. When you place it on its stand, it takes a few seconds to stabilize and then the inner sphere begins slowly turning. The speed will be about 3 to 4 RPM in an average room. The mechanism powering these globes is remarkable. For puzzlers, they are nearly an impossible object. Room light and the Earth's magnetic field are mentioned here because it is unlikely you wouldn't want one if you didn't know a little about how it worked. The very sensitive solar cells power an unusual custom designed outer-rotor type motor that turns the inner sphere. a large disk operates as a compass to provide a force for the motor to turn against. Even your cleverest guests will think long and hard about what makes it work. I have had one of the larger ones running on my coffee table for several years and still find myself staring at it! For what it's worth, I like these smaller ones better.

No batteries and or wires.
Silent and hypnotic motion.
4.5 inches in diameter.
Includes an informative guide.
Globes are $99 + $11 Priority Mail shipping to addresses within United States!

View the Mova Globe Patents:

6,937,125 B1	30 AUG 2005	Self-Rotating Display Spherical Device
6,853,253 B1	08 FEB 2005	Frictionless Self-Powered Moving Display
6,952.151 B1	04 OCT 2005	Frictionless Self-Powered Moving Display

Several people have asked about the antique look Mova Globes. I used to carry them, but found that the ocean areas were covered with small brown dots. Therefore, I have decided to not carry it until the graphic is corrected. I have included photos of the antique look globe below where you can see the "dot" problem. I have also decided to not carry the Black & Silver version because the black is not really black, but a very dark, ink-like blue. It is also somewhat transparent and you can see the magnet at the North Pole through the graphic. In some lighting conditions, the solar cells located just below the Equator are also visible. There are also photos of it. However, if you would still like to have one of these two versions, contact me and they can be special ordered. The Antique version is the same price as the Traditional Blue and the Blue-Green Relief, while the Black & Silver is $15 additional.

Google Checkout - United States Only

PayPal Checkout - United States Only

Contact me at with any questions or quotations for multiple globes or shipping options and costs to international addresses.

Do not confuse Mova Globes with the Terra Magic Rotating Globes that run on battery power and are attached to their stand!


Traditional Blue

Blue-Green Relief

Antique - Special order until the graphic is corrected

Black & Silver - Special order - See above note about graphic

With this dissected version, you can see half of the 3mm outer sphere with the smaller inner sphere setting inside it. Half of the thin graphic has been removed from the inner sphere. At the top of the polar axle you can see the cylindrical magnet that acts like a compass needle and always orients north / south. This gives the eddy-current motor that is located below the Equator something to push against. You can also see the array of three photocells that are on the top surface of the motor. There are also some electronics located on this surface. The heavy metal band around the Equator acts as a flywheel providing a smooth and steady rotation. The space between the two spheres is filled with two different immiscible (will not mix) fluoro-carbon fluids (shown in the photograph on the right), one being more dense than the other and located at the bottom of the globe where it stabilizes the inner sphere and keeps it from sinking to the bottom. Some owners have noticed this dense fluid that looks a lot like a three-inch contact lens at the South Pole. Note the amount of space between the inner and outer spheres. The graphic is about 6mm from the outer surface of the globe, yet it appears to be on the outer surface and gives the impression that the whole globe is rotating. Some people will try to stop it by touching the outer surface. The globes are very durable (note the thickness of the outer sphere) and not fragile, though they can be damaged by dropping them on a hard floor. For additional information about the technology involved, see the patents available at the beginning of this page.