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{{Short description|Illustration of the relative positions of the Sun and planets}} [[File:Planetarium in Putnam Gallery 2, 2009-11-24.jpg|thumb|A 1766 Benjamin Martin mechanical model, or [[orrery]], on display at the [[Harvard Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments]]]] '''Solar System models''', especially mechanical models, called ''[[orreries]]'', that illustrate the relative positions and motions of the [[planet]]s and [[Natural satellite|moon]]s in the [[Solar System]] have been built for centuries. While they often showed relative sizes, these models were usually not built to scale. The enormous ratio of interplanetary distances to planetary diameters makes constructing a [[scale model]] of the Solar System a challenging task. As one example of the difficulty, the distance between the [[Earth]] and the [[Sun]] is almost 12,000 times the diameter of the Earth. If the smaller planets are to be easily visible to the naked eye, large outdoor spaces are generally necessary, as is some means for highlighting objects that might otherwise not be noticed from a distance. The [[Museum of Science (Boston)|Boston Museum of Science]] had placed bronze models of the planets in major public buildings, all on similar stands with interpretive labels.<ref>"[https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7R8M_Boston_Community_Solar_System_Sun_Boston_MA Boston Community Solar System]" at Waymarking.com.</ref> For example, the model of [[Jupiter]] was located in the cavernous [[South Station]] waiting area. The properly-scaled, basket-ball-sized model is 1.3 miles (2.14 km) from the model Sun which is located at the museum, graphically illustrating the immense empty space in the Solar System. The objects in such large models do not move. Traditional orreries often did move, and some used clockworks to display the relative speeds of objects accurately. These can be thought of as being correctly scaled in ''time'', instead of ''distance''. ==Permanent true scale models== Many towns and institutions have built outdoor scale models of the Solar System. Here is a table comparing these models with the actual system. {| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="font-size: 100%" ! Name ! Location ! Scale:<br />1 : … ! Sun dia. ! Earth dia. ! Sun–Earth ! Sun–Pluto ! Description |- | colspan="2"|'''Actual Solar System''' |align=center| '''1''' | '''1.392 Gm''' | '''12.76 Mm''' | '''149.6 Gm''' | '''5.914 Tm''' | |- | [[Sweden Solar System]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweden Solar System {{!}} |url=https://www.swedensolarsystem.se/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |language=sv-SE}}</ref> | {{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] |align=right| 20,000,000 | 71 m | 65 cm | 7,600 m | 300 km | permanent; country-wide (begun 1998) |- | Solar System Drive<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worlds Largest Virtual Solar System Drive |url=https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/warrumbungle-area/coonabarabran/attractions/worlds-largest-virtual-solar-system-drive |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=www.visitnsw.com |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coonabarabran: The world's largest solar system drive |url=https://playingintheworldgame.com/2012/11/05/coonabarabran-the-worlds-largest-solar-system-drive/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.playingintheworldgame.com |date=5 November 2012 |language=en-AU}}</ref> | {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Coonabarabran]], [[Australia]] |align=right| 38,000,000 | 37 m | 34 cm | 4,100 m | 205 km | permanent; drivable; non-geodetic (est. 1997) |- |Space for MUCO project<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monumental |url=https://www.timroosen.be/monumental?lightbox=imagexct |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=timroosen |language=nl}}</ref> |{{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Brussels|Brussells]], [[Belgium]] |align=right| 40,000,000 | 34.8 m | 32 cm | 3,730 m | 147 km |permanent; country wide; non-scale sculptures (est. 2004) |- | Maine Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bayly |first=Julia |date=2021-08-18 |title=Here's how you can visit the solar system in Maine, no rocket ship required |url=http://www.bangordailynews.com/2021/08/18/homestead/heres-how-you-can-visit-the-solar-system-in-maine-no-rocket-ship-required/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Maine Solar System Model |url=https://www.mainesolarsystem.com/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Maine Solar System Model |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Presque Isle, Maine]] |align=right| 93,000,000 | 15 m | 13.7 cm | 1,600 m | 64 km | permanent; drivable (est.2003) |- |Mont Megantic Dark Sky Reserve Great Solar System |{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Mont-Mégantic National Park|Parc national du Mont-Mégantic]], [[Canada]] |align=right| 100,000,000 |14 m |12.4 cm |1,450 m |57 km |permanent; drivable (est.2018) |- |Otago Central Interplanetary Cycle Trail<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Pam |date=2017-03-16 |title=Solar system to scale on Rail Trail |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/solar-system-scale-rail-trail |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Katarina |date=2016-11-12 |title=Otago Central rail trail to become 100 million to one model replica of the Solar System |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/86256117/otago-central-rail-trail-to-become-100-million-to-one-model-replica-of-the-solar-system |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Interplanetary Ride |url=https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/ride/an-interplanetary-ride/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Otago Central Rail Trail |language=en}}</ref> |{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Otago Central Rail Trail]], [[New Zealand]] |align=right| 100,000,000 |13.91 m |12 cm |1,496 m |59.06 km |permanent; cyclable (est.2017) |- | Riverfront Museum Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Solar System Scale Model {{!}} Museum & Informal Education Alliance |url=https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/community-solar-system-scale-model |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=informal.jpl.nasa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoenheider |first=Jon |title=Interplanetary 5K takes runners across the solar system |url=https://www.25newsnow.com/2022/03/26/interplanetary-5k-takes-runners-across-solar-system/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=www.25newsnow.com |date=26 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Solar System |url=https://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/dome-planetarium/community-solar-system |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Peoria Scale Model of the Solar System |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/peoria-scale-model-of-the-solar-system |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=atlasobscura.com |language=en}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Peoria, Illinois]] |align=right| 99,000,000 | 11 m | 10.0 cm | 1,200 m | 47 km | permanent; drivable (est. 1992?) |- | Vienna Solar System | {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Vienna]], [[Austria]] |align=right| 163,764,706 | 8.5 m | 7.78 cm | 913 m | 36 km | ''under construction since 2018.'' Physical + Augmented Reality |- | [[Planet Lofoten]]<ref>{{Cite web | title=naturfag.no: Planet Lofoten | url=https://www.naturfag.no/artikkel/vis.html?tid=858271 | access-date=2024-12-25 | website=www.naturfag.no}}</ref> | {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Lofoten]], [[Norway]] |align=right| 200,000,000 | 7 m | 6.4 cm | 750m | 30 km | ''under construction'' |- | Planet Trek Dane County | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Madison, Wisconsin]] |align=right| 200,000,000 | 7 m | 6.6 cm | 777 m | 38.3 km | permanent; fully accessible by foot and bike paths (est. 2009) |- | Sunspot Solar System Model<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunspot Solar System Model |url=https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/sunspot-solar-system-model |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=informal.jpl.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunspot Solar System Model |url=http://eo.nso.edu/solarsystem |access-date=2024-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411094811/http://eo.nso.edu/solarsystem |archive-date=2017-04-11 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=VISITING THE SUNSPOT OBSERVATORY |url=https://sunspot.solar/visit/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=sunspot.solar |date=19 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Overview of Sunspot |url=https://sunspot.nmsu.edu/about/about-us.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=sunspot.nmsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> | {{flagicon|US}} [[Sunspot, New Mexico]] |align=right| 250,000,000 | 5.6 m | 5.1 cm | 1.5 m | 23.6 km | permanent, drivable |- |Lethbridge Solar System Model |{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Lethbridge|Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada]] |align=right| 254,000,000 |5.5 m |5 cm |500 m |14.7 km (Neptune) |permanent, drivable, walkable (est. 2022) |- |El Sistema Solar de la comarca de Ciudad Rodrigo |{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Ciudad Rodrigo]], [[Spain]] |align=right| 290,000,000 |4.8 m |4.4 cm |1.2 m |25 km |permanent, Walk & Drive |- | If the Earth were a Ping-Pong ball{{cn|date=January 2020}} | {{flagicon|UK}} [[Westminster, London]] |align=right| 318,905,000 | 4.36 m | 4 cm | ? | ? | In construction; Walk & Drive (est. 2018) Centered around Deans Yard, Westminster |- | Moab Scale Model of the Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moab Scale Model Solar System |url=https://slideplayer.com/slide/2864862 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=slideplayer.com |language=en}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Moab, Utah|Moab]], [[Utah]] |align=right| 385,937,677 | 3.6 m | 2.4 cm | ? | 15.3 km | permanent; Walk and Drive (est. 2007) |- | Light Speed Planet Walk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where to start your Planet Walk |url=https://anchorageplanetwalk.org/wheretostart.html |website=anchorageplanetwalk.org|access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], [[Alaska]] |align=right| 390,000,000 | ? | ? | ? | 16.6 km | permanent; drivable (est. 2005) |- |- | Community Solar System Trail<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Boston used to have a scale model of the Solar System |url=https://medium.com/@shirleymarquezdulcey/greater-boston-used-to-have-a-scale-model-of-the-solar-system-that-was-sponsored-by-the-museum-of-d3206fc12337 |website=medium.com |date=15 August 2021 |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum of Science Boston Community Solar System |url=https://foursquare.com/eric_odea/list/museum-of-science-boston-community-solar-system |website=foursquare.com |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] |align=right| 400,000,000 | 3.5 m | 3.2 cm | 380 m | 15.3 km | permanent; drivable (established in 1997, removed in 2015) |- | The Solar System to Scale | {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Estremoz]], [[Portugal]] |align=right| 414,000,000 | 3.4 m | 3.1 cm | 361 m | 14.3 km | permanent; drivable; bikeable |- | Solar System Stroll<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar System Stroll website |url=https://www.sustava.sk/en |access-date=2024-02-28 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]] |align=right| 464,000,000 | 3 m | 2.7 cm | 322 m | 13 km | permanent; bikeable, drivable; under construction since 2024 |- | [[Somerset Space Walk]] | {{flagicon|UK}} [[Bridgwater and Taunton Canal|Bridgwater Canal]], [[Somerset]], [[England]] |align=right| 530,000,000 | 2.5 m | ? | ? | 11 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 1997) |- | York's Solar System model | {{flagicon|UK}} [[York]], [[England]] |align=right| 575,872,239 | 2.4 m | 2.2 cm | 260 m | 10.3 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 1999) |- |Traverse Bay Community Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar System |url=https://traversetrails.org/solar-system/ |website=traversetrails.org |access-date=2024-02-20 | language=en-US}}</ref> |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], [[Michigan]] |align=right| 592,763,356 | 0.9 m | ? | 209 m | 10.0 km |permanent; bikeable (est. 2004) |- |Michigan Solar System Model<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOLAR SYSTEM SCULPTURE INSTALLMENT |url=https://midlandcountymi.gov/parks-solar |website=midlandcountymi.gov |access-date=2024-02-20 | language=en-US}}</ref> |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Coleman, Michigan|Coleman]], [[Michigan]] |align=right| 608,000,000 | 2.3 m | 2.1 cm | 324 m | 9.8 km | permanent; bike trail Sun and Pls. Spheres (2017) |- |Solar System | {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Opava]], [[Czech Republic]] |align=right| 627,000,000 | 2.2 m | 2.0 cm | 239 m | 9.42 km | permanent; bikeable; walkable; drivable (est. 2006) |- | [[Nine Views]] | {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Zagreb]], [[Croatia]] |align=right| 680,000,000 | 2.0 m | 1.9 cm | 225 m | 8.7 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 2004) |- | Walk the Solar System | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Fort St. John, British Columbia|Fort St. John]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] |align=right| 682,353,000 | 2.0 m | 1.9 cm | 219 m | 8.6 km | ''under construction'' |- | McCarthy Observatory<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scale Solar System |url=https://www.mccarthyobservatory.org/scale-solar-system-2/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=mccarthyobservatory.org|language=en}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]], [[Connecticut]] |align=right| 761,155,000 | 1.8 m | 1.7 cm | 195 m | 7.1 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 2009) |- | Planet Walk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Planet Walk! |url=https://www.friendsofaatrails.org/planet-walk/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.friendsofaatrails.org |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Glen Burnie, Maryland]]. |align=right| 781,000,000 | ? | ? | 191.5 m | 7.56 km | Walkable, bikeable (est. 2008). Part of the permanent [[Baltimore & Annapolis Trail]]. |- | Trilho do Sistema Solar | {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Paredes de Coura]], [[Portugal]] |align=right| 831,000,000 | 1.675 m | 1.533 cm | 180 m | 5.42 km (Neptune) | permanent; walkable; bikeable (est. 2016) |- |Planetenpad Utrecht |{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Utrecht]], The [[Netherlands]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 |1.3 m |1.3 cm |150 m |7.4 km (Neptune) |Leads from Centre Utrecht to Rhijnauwen, on foot, on bike or on kayak |- |Model of the Solar System | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.2 cm | 149.6 m | 6.1 km | permanent; bikeable |- |Planetenmodell Hagen | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hagen]], [[Germany]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 1959) |- | Planetenweg Schwarzbach | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Kriftel]], [[Germany]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 1998) |- | Uetliberg Planetenweg | {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Zürich]], [[Switzerland]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable |- |Planetenwanderweg | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Ehrenfriedersdorf]], [[Germany]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable |- | Planetary Trail | {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Hradec Králové]], [[Czech Republic]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 2005) |- |Planetary Trail | {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | {{nowrap|13 km (Sedna as discovered)}}<br />5.9 km (Pluto) | permanent; bike & walk; all objects above 1000km; (est. 13.5.2018) |- | Melbourne Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |last=museumoflost |date=2018-04-05 |title=The St Kilda Solar System |url=https://www.museumoflost.com/st-kilda-solar-system/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=The Museum of Lost Things |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick visits the Melbourne Solar System trail, finds six planets, loses Neptune and takes a surprise trip to Proxima Centauri |url=https://www.maas.museum/observations/2010/08/03/nick-visits-the-melbourne-solar-system-trail-finds-six-planets-loses-neptune-and-takes-a-surprise-trip-to-proxima-centauri/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Observations |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km (Pluto) <br />40 140 km (Proxima Centauri) | permanent; bikeable (est. 2008) Proxima Centauri scale distance calculated travelling Melbourne to Melbourne via the Poles.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Solar system trail | url=https://stkildamelbourne.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Solar_System_Self_Guided_Trail_web_friendly.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306161640/http://stkildamelbourne.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Solar_System_Self_Guided_Trail_web_friendly.pdf | archive-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> |- | Scale Model Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Outer Planet Map |url=https://members.efn.org/~jack_v/planetmaps.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=members.efn.org/|language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], [[Oregon]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.2 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; bikeable (est. 1997) |- | Planetstien, Sandnes | {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Sandnes]], [[Norway]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.2 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; walkable, bikeable (est. 2010) |- | Planetstien, Lemvig | {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Lemvig]], [[Denmark]] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.2 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | permanent; walkable |- | Grand Trunk Pathway Solar System Model | {{flagicon|Canada}} [https://www.terrace.ca/ Terrace, British Columbia] |align=right| 1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 6 km | permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2018) |- | Planet Walk | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Munich]], [[Germany]] |align=right| 1,290,000,000 | 1.1 m | 1.0 cm | 116 m | 4.6 km | permanent; walkable (est. 1995) |- | Strolling at the speed of light | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[La Malbaie]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] |align=right| 1,500,000,000 | 0.9 m | 0.8 cm | 100 m | 3 km (Neptune) | permanent; walkable (est. 2009) (temp?) |- | State of the Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=STATE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM |url=https://stateofthesolarsystembham.wordpress.com/guide-to-the-hunt/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=stateofthesolarsystembham.wordpress.com/ |date=5 October 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/state-of-the-solar-system-poster.pdf |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=cob.org/ |title=State of the Solar System Poster |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What's the Deal With: The downtown solar system? |url=https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2022/may/25/whats-the-deal-with-the-downtown-solar-system/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.cascadiadaily.com/ |date=25 May 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] |align=right| 1,826,770,000 | 0.762 m | 0.6858 cm | 82 m | ? | permanent; walkable (est. 2016) |- | Meteoria Söderfjärden | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Vaasa]], [[Finland]] |align=right| 2,000,000,000 | 0.7 m | ? | ? | ? | permanent; walkable |- | Planetenweg Göttingen | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Göttingen]], [[Germany]] |align=right| 2,000,000,000 | 0.70 m | 0.65 cm | 75 m | 3.2 km | permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2013) |- | Solar System Walking Tour<ref>{{Cite web |title=WALKING TOUR OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM |url=https://www.exploregeorgia.org/gainesville/entertainment/tours/walking-tour-of-our-solar-system |website=www.exploregeorgia.org |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar System Walking Tour |url=https://www.exploregainesville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Solar-System-Walking-Tour-with-bleed.pdf |website=www.exploregainesville.org |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar System Walking Tour |url=https://www.gainesville.org/DocumentCenter/View/1163/Solar-System-Walking-Tour-PDF |website=www.gainesville.org |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] |align=right| 2,000,000,000 | 0.7 m | 0.6 cm | 75 m | 2.9 km | permanent; walkable (est. 2000) |- | [[:sv:Göteborgs Naturhistoriska museum#Rymdpromenaden|Rymdpromenaden ("Spacewalk")]] | {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]] |align=right| 2,000,000,000 | 0.7 m | 0.6 cm | 75 m | 3 km | permanent; walkable (est. 1978) |- | Montshire Museum of Science<ref>{{Cite web |title=Planet Walk (3.0 miles roundtrip) |url=https://www.montshire.org/exhibits/outdoor-discovery-trails/planet-walk. |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.montshire.org/ |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Norwich, Vermont|Norwich]], [[Vermont]] |align=right| 2,200,000,000 | 0.6 m | 0.6 cm | 68 m | 2.7 km | permanent; walkable |- | Ride to Pluto: Boise's Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenbelt's little-known Planet Walk shows solar system's scale |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/playing-outdoors/article82391702.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.idahostatesman.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Boise Greenbelt]], [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], [[Idaho]] |align=right| 2,200,000,000 | 0.5 m | ? | ? | 2.4 km | permanent; walkable & bikeable |- | The Solar walk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar System Walk |url=https://www.mylongview.com/facilities/facility/details/Solar-System-Walk-15 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.mylongview.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SOLAR SYSTEM MAP |url=https://www.friendsofgalileo.com/solar-system-map.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.friendsofgalileo.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Longview, Washington|Longview]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] |align=right| 2,240,000,000<!-- 1.64 miles [= 2.6393 km] given at the website as its length, supposedly the distance of Pluto, in reality 5.91 billion km, hence the scale; also the size of the Sun is thus derived as 0.62 m, aligning with the size given at the website: 24 inches [= 0.61 m] --> | 0.6 m | 0.6 cm | 56.94 m | 2.7 km | permanent; walkable (est. 2001) |- | [[Akaa Solar System Scale Model]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Akaa|Akaa, Finland]] |align=right| 3,000,000,000 | 0.46 m | 0.4 cm | 49.9 m | 1.958 km (Pluto) <br /> 13 370 km (Proxima Centauri) | permanent; walkable (est. 2017), Proxima Centauri in Yulara, Australia |- | Elmhurst Scale Model of the Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elmhurst Residents Can Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before |url=https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/elmhurst-residents-can-boldly-go-where-no-one-has-gone-before |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=patch.com |date=20 November 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ELMHURST SOLAR SYSTEM MODEL |url=http://www.elmhurstsolarsystem.org/home.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305040918/http://www.elmhurstsolarsystem.org/home.html |archive-date=2016-03-05 |language=en}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Elmhurst, Illinois|Elmhurst]], [[Illinois]] |align=right| 3,044,620,000 | 0.5 m | 0.4 cm | 49.1 m | 1.929 km | permanent; walk & drive (est. 2013) |- | Solar System model group of sculptures | {{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Kecskemét|Kecskemét, Hungary]] |align=right| 3,300,000,000 | 0.418 m | 0.4 cm <!-- described as "borsószemnyi", the size of a pea --> | 45 m <!-- calculated --> | 1.8 km <!-- calculated --> | permanent; walkable (est. 2002) |- | Milky Way path | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Westerbork (village)|Westerbork, The Netherlands]] |align=right| 3,700,000,000 | ? | ? | ? | 2.5 km | permanent; walkable |- | Solar Walk | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], [[Florida]] |align=right| 4,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 37.4 m | 1.5 km | permanent; walkable (est. 2002) |- | Otford Solar System Model <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www3.astronomicalheritage.net/index.php/heritage/places-connected-to-the-sky?place=otford-solar-system-united-kingdom | title=UNESCO Astronomy and World Heritage Webportal - Places connected to the Sky }}</ref> | {{flagicon|UK}} [[Otford]], England |align=right| 4,595,700,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 32 m | 900 m | permanent; walkable; Includes: Proxima Centauri in Los Angeles, USA; Barnard's Star in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Sirius in Sydney, Australia; and Ross 154 in Christchurch, New Zealand |- | Wooster Planet Walk | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wooster, Ohio|Wooster]], [[Ohio]] |align=right| 5,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 30 m | 1.2 km | permanent; walkable (est. 2014) |- | [[Sagan Planet Walk|The Sagan Planet Walk]] | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]], New York |align=right| 5,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 30 m | 1.2 km | permanent; walkable (est. 1997) |- | Delmar Loop Planet Walk | {{flagicon|USA}} [[University City, Missouri|University City]], [[Missouri]] |align=right| 5,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.2 cm | 30 m | 870 m (Neptune) | permanent; walkable (est. 2009) |- |The Solar Walk | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]] |align=right| 5,280,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.2 cm | 28.4 m | 1.1 km | permanent; walkable |- |Solar System Walk An Exploration of Scale |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Carlsbad, California]] |align=right| 5,280,000,000 | ? | ? | 28 m | 1.119 km |Located near Lake Calavera |- | O Sistema Solar no Parque<ref>{{Cite web |title=O Sistema Solar no Parque |date=2 June 2016 |url=https://www.zenite.nu/o-sistema-solar-no-parque/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203170037/https://www.zenite.nu/o-sistema-solar-no-parque/ |archive-date=2023-12-03 |language=pt}}</ref> | {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Natal, Rio Grande do Norte|Natal]], [[Brazil]] |align=right| 7,000,000,000 | 0.2 m | 1.8 mm | 22 m | 875 m | permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. June 3rd, 2016) |- | A True Scale Model of the Solar System<ref>{{Cite web |title=A True Scale Model of the Solar System |url=https://www2.tntech.edu/leap/astr1010/sssm.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www2.tntech.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Building a True Scale Model of the Solar System |url=https://www2.tntech.edu/leap/astr1010/project_locations_2017.pdf |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www2.tntech.edu}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cookeville, Tennessee]] |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.14 m | 0.12 cm | 15 m | 590 m | permanent; walkable (est. 2017) |- | [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/ Voyage National Program] [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/voyage-in-the-news/ <sup><nowiki>[1]</nowiki></sup>] | {{flagicon|USA}} {{ubl|}} [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-in-washington-dc/ National Mall, Washington, D.C.] (2001) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-i-communities/kansas-city-kansas-voyage-mark-i/ Kansas City, Missouri] (2008)[http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-i-communities/houston-texas-voyage-mark-i/ Space Center Houston, Texas] (2008) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-i-communities/corpus-christi-texas-voyage-mark-i/ Corpus Christi, Texas] (2009)[http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/boulder-co/ Boulder, Colorado] (2021) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/palo-alto-ca/ Palo Alto, California] (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Voyage Scale Model Solar System |url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/365/the-voyage-scale-model-solar-system |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=NASA Solar System Exploration|date=27 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bennett |first=J. |date=2020-01-01 |title=Voyage Mark II — Scale Model Solar Systems at Moderate Prices |journal=American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235 |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020AAS...23523906B |volume=235 |pages=239.06 |bibcode=2020AAS...23523906B}}</ref> [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/broken-arrow-ok/ Broken Arrow, Oklahoma] (2022) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/ocala-fl/ Ocala, Florida] (2022) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/lake-charles-la/ Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana] (2022) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/dover-nh/ Dover, New Hampshire] (2023) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/spokane-wa/ Spokane, Washington] (2022) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/memphis-tn/ Memphis, Tennessee] (2023) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/chalmette-la/ Chalmette, Louisiana] (2023) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/jonesboro-ar/ Jonesboro, Arkansas] (2023) [http://voyagesolarsystem.org/community-network/voyage-mark-ii-communities/troy-ny/ Troy, New York] (2024) |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.1 m | 0.1 cm | 15 m | 600 m |permanent; walkable; US national program |- |Lake Innitou Thousand Yard Interplanetary Walk |{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Woburn, Massachusetts]] |10,000,000,000 |0.23 m (bowling ball) |N/A (stone plaque) |24 m |932 m (1019 yd) |permanent; walkable (est. 2004); along the sidewalk by [[Horn Pond (Massachusetts)|Horn Pond]]. |- | NJ Botanical Garden | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ringwood, New Jersey|Ringwood]], [[New Jersey]] |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.2 m | 2.0 cm | 23.8 m | 927 m | walkable |- | Colorado Scale Model Solar System | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fiske Planetarium]], [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]], [[Colorado]] |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.1 m | 0.1 cm | 15 m | 600 m | permanent; walkable (est. 1987) |- | Anstruther Model Solar System | {{flagicon|UK}} [[Anstruther]], Scotland |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.1 m | 0.1 cm | 15 m | 600 m | permanent; walkable (est. 2014) |- | Le Chemin Solaire | {{flagicon|France}} [[La Couyère]], [[Brittany]] |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 1 m | 0.1 cm | ? | 450 m | permanent; walkable (est. 2011) |- | Solar Walk UofT Scarborough | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] and [[Eureka, Nunavut]] |align=right| 10,000,000,000 | 0.14 m | 0.13 cm | 15 m | 591 m | permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2017) |- | MIT's Infinite Solar System<ref name="InfSolar">{{cite web |title=Infinite Solar System |url=https://eaps.mit.edu/infinite-solar-system/ |website=MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=2024-11-19}}</ref><ref name=Binzel>{{cite web |last1=Binzel |first1=Richard P. |title=Corralling the cosmos in the Infinite Corridor |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/10/24/132399/corralling-the-cosmos-in-the-infinite-corridor/ |website=MIT Technology Review |access-date=2022-03-05 |language=en |date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Keller">{{cite web |last1=Keller |first1=Julia C. |title=An Infinite solar system |url=https://news.mit.edu/2018/mit-infinite-corridor-solar-system-1116 |website=MIT News |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=2022-03-05 |language=en |date=November 16, 2018}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]] |align=right| 30,000,000,000 | 4.6 cm | 0.43 mm | 5.0 m | 200 m | permanent; walkable (est. 2018); along "[[Infinite Corridor]]" |- | Solar System Lawn Model<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solar System Lawn Model |url=https://griffithobservatory.org/exhibits/exterior-exhibits/solar-system-lawn-model/ |website=griffithobservatory.org|access-date=2023-05-29 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Griffith Observatory]], [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] |align=right| 105,000,000,000 | 1.32 cm | 0.12 mm | 1.42 m | 56 m | permanent; walkable; engraved in the front sidewalk |} ==Other models of the Solar System: historic, temporary, virtual, or dual-scale== {| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" style="font-size: 100%" ! Name ! Location ! Scale ! Sun dia. ! Earth dia. ! Sun-Earth ! Sun-Pluto ! Description |- | [[Kirkhill Astronomical Pillar |Kirkhill model 1776]]{{efn|Possibly the first accurate scale model after the measurement of the astronomical unit in 1769.}} | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scotland]] | 1:778,268,620.8 | 1.8 m | 1.6 cm | 197 m | - | decayed |- |Planetenpad Utrecht |{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Utrecht, [[Netherlands]] |1:1,000,000,000 |1.3 m |1.3 cm |150 m |7.4 km (Neptune) |Leads from Centre Utrecht to Rhijnauwen, on foot, on bike or by kayak |- | Planet Walk Malta[https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/23757/1/Science%20with%20a%20difference%20HSci%202005.pdf] |{{flagicon|Malta}} [[Buġibba]], [[Malta]] |1:2,956,760,000 (distance) / 695,000,000 (sizes) |2.0 m |1.84 cm |50.60 m |2.0 km (Neptune) |Leads from Malta Aquarium west along promenade |- | Sorghvliet | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[The Hague]], [[Netherlands]] | 1:696,000,000 | 2.0 m | 1.8 cm | 215 m | 6.5 km (Neptune) | (temporary) |- | Sol Chicago<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sol Chicago |url=http://www.solchicago.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625231455/http://www.solchicago.com/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |archive-date=2011-06-25 | language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sol Chicago |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woJKgXufK8c |website=youtube.com/ | date=8 January 2011 |access-date=2024-02-19 | language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} Illinois, [[Chicago]] | 1:73,660,000 | 19 m | 17.3 cm | 2,050 m | 61 km (Neptune) | (temporary) proposed |- | Le Chemin des planètes | {{flagicon|Switzerland}} {{nowrap|[[Saint-Luc, Switzerland|Saint-Luc]], [[Switzerland]]}} | 1:1,000,000,000 | 1.4 m | 1.3 cm | 150 m | 5.9 km | uses two different scales for distance and size |- | The Madison Planet Stroll<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to The Madison Planet Stroll |url=https://www.pbdot3.com/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.idahostatesman.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]] | 1:4,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 37 m | 1.5 km | (virtual) |- |Solar System Stroll | {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] | 1:5,000,000,000 | 0.3 m | 0.3 cm | 30 m | 1.2 km | permanent; walkable (est. 2016) |- | The Thousand-Yard Model<ref>{{Cite web | title=The Thousand-Yard Model, or, The Earth as a Peppercorn|url= http://www.universalworkshop.com/guy-ottewell/the-thousand-yard-model-or-the-earth-as-a-peppercorn/|access-date=2023-05-29 |website=www.universalworkshop.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=The Thousand-Yard Model, or, The Earth as a Peppercorn | url=https://noirlab.edu/public/products/educational-programs/eduprog032/ | access-date=2023-05-29 | website=noirlab.edu |language=en-US}} </ref> | (virtual) | 1:6,336,000,000 | 0.2 m | 0.2 cm | 25 m | 1 km | The scale of the planets is the same as the scale between them, and the planets are represented by everyday objects; the Earth is a peppercorn, Jupiter is a walnut, and Neptune is a coffee bean. |- | (dismantled) <!-- I'm pretty sure it was dismantled shortly thereafter --> | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!]], [[Quebec]] | 1:10,000,000,000 | 0.1 m | 0.1 cm | 15 m | 0.6 km | (dismantled) (est. 1985) |- | Lafayette Walk | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]] | 1:6,336,000,000 | 23 cm | 0.2 cm | 25 m | 983 m | A walking demonstration of (un)imaginable distances. "It's nowhere near [[Graham's Number]]." |- | Planets on the Path | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chicago]], Illinois | 1:2,195,000,000 | | | 457 m | 13.5 miles | (2015, temporary) |- | The Solar System, to scale, for a school yard | PDF for printing | 1:11,945,400,000 | 11.6 cm | 0.1 cm | 12.5 m | 492 m | PDFs, A4 and 8½″×11″, to be printed, affixed to cards which are affixed to sticks; then to be held by children standing in a school yard. Includes major moons and asteroids. |- |Naas Virtual Solar System |{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Naas]], [[County Kildare]] |1 : 154,557,330 |9 m |82 mm |968 m |29 km (Neptune) |In Ireland, this instantly recognisable roadside spherical sculpture is well known, and is used as the model for the Sun. The website<ref>{{cite web|title=Naas Solar System|accessdate=2023-07-27|url=https://www.naas-solar-system.com/}}</ref> maps out the planetary orbits and shows everyday objects to scale the planets (e.g. a golf ball for Mars) |- |Saskatoon Solar Walk |[[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]] |1 : 1,275,600,000 |109 cm |1 cm |110 m |4,500 m |Personal and public art installation. |- |Eise Eisinga Visvliet <ref>{{Cite web |last=Visvliet |first=Eise Eisinga |title=Eise Eisinga Visvliet – Visvliet.com |url=https://eiseeisinga.visvliet.com/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> |{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Visvliet]], [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]] |1: 870,000,000 |160 cm |1.5 cm |172 m |n/a |Permanent installation honouring [[Eise Eisinga]], the creator of the world famous [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium|Planetarium in Franeker]], who lived in Visviet in 1700. As the original Planetarium only includes the planets up to Saturn, so does this one. |} Several sets of [[geocaching]] caches have been laid out as Solar System models. ==See also== {{Portal|Outer space|Solar System}} *[[Numerical model of the Solar System]] *[[Historical models of the Solar System]] *[[Infinite Corridor]] {{Clear}} ==References== {{Notelist|refs= }} {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Solar System models}} *[http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/solarsystem/ A list of websites related to Solar System models] *[https://www.redpenguin.net/blog/the-otford-solar-system/ The Otford Solar System] *[http://www.joshworth.com/a-tediously-accurate-map-of-the-solar-system/ An accurate web-based scroll map of the Solar System scaled to the Moon being 1 pixel] *[http://www.troybrophy.com/projects/solarsystem/ An online scale model] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105170941/http://www.troybrophy.com/projects/solarsystem/ |date=2020-01-05 }} (does not work in some browsers) *[https://semsystem.net An online 3D model] *[http://www.aeonmagazine.com/nature-and-cosmos/driving-the-solar-system-is-a-lesson-in-space-and-time/ An article on the Solar System in Maine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010082114/http://www.aeonmagazine.com/nature-and-cosmos/driving-the-solar-system-is-a-lesson-in-space-and-time/ |date=2013-10-10 }} *[http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/the-planets-line-up-its-st-kilda-in-summer/2005/12/02/1133422111080.html An article about a temporary exhibit in Melbourne, Australia] *[http://kletzenbauerzeitlichtung.homepage.t-online.de/Texte/Planetenwanderwege/planetenwanderwege.html A map with Solar System models in Germany] *[http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ A tool to calculate the diameters and distances needed for an accurate scale model] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR3Igc3Rhfg To Scale: The Solar System] - video of model built in desert with Earth as the size of a marble. {{Solar System}} {{Solar System models}} [[Category:Solar System|Model]] [[Category:Physics education]] [[Category:Scale modeling]] [[Category:Solar System models|*]]
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