Caution though, a high power IR laser isn't where I'd start, you can punch holes with a high power NUBM44 blue laser diode, when focused to a small spot quicker than a 1 watt IR diode. (E: but what am I saying, that isn't a good one to start with either!).
Yea, better not to play with lasers at all if I were to give 100% proper advice, they aren't toys! Oh, wait, how can I justify what I'm doing if not playing?
It's like playing with a steak knife, if you are around people it's a bad idea, but if you are in your workshop and wearing gloves then play away, the point is to always protect others and yourself, and if you do take a risk to yourself then make sure you never create a risk/hazard that could hurt others, hurting yourself is stupid, hurting others is criminal.
This reminds me of a person I once knew that made an IR laser just as a party trick to pop balloons without anyone knowing who or how.
That person is dead now. The partygoers killed him because they went blind.
Jokes aside i think what you should do to fulfill your fantasy is this.
>Buy a styrofoam ball.
>Cut out hole for 532nm laser (200-700mw).
>Shove in the internals and make a battery hole.
>Paint the ball grey and add black markings like in A New Hope.
>???
>Deathstar 3.0
Then you can show it off to everyone here on how you built a thats-no-moon.