Scaled Solar System Models

The following are links to web pages about actual scaled solar system models. Information about hands-on activities related to scaling the planets can also be found here. Be sure to check out the Neat Sites section at the bottom of this page for more links and a DIY scaling site.

Planet Walks

Most of these are reasonable walks, with Pluto ending up anywhere between one and six kilometers distant from Sun. Here are well-funded, stylish sites, as well as spartan, inexpensive ones. There is even one with a QuickTime movie virtual tour.

• Washington, DC (Voyage) - Scale: 1 to 10000 Million (1 L.Y. = 1000km)
• Ithaca, NY (Sagan Planetwalk) - Scale: 1 to 5000 Million (1.2km to Pluto)
• Lehigh, Pennsylvania (Rev. Dr. Ernest F. Andrews Memorial Planet Walk) - Scale: 1 to 5000 Million (1.2km to Pluto)
• Madison, Wisconsin (Madison Planet Stroll) - Scale: 1 to 4000 Million (1.5km to Pluto)
• Gainesville, Georgia - Scale: 1 to 2000 Million (3km to Pluto)

Planet Drives

These are all a bit different but certainly more suited for driving than walking. Pluto-Sun distances range from 10km to 300km! Be sure to check out members of a unicycle club traveling the British model and the wonderful planetary artwork in the Peoria model. I still think the Presque Isle model is one of the best - it is linear, uncluttered and has great visual impact.

• Northern England - Scale: 1 to 575 Million (10.5km to Pluto)
• Boston, MA - Scale: 1 to 400 Million (15km to Pluto)
• Peoria, Illinois - Scale: 1 to 125 Million (48km to Pluto)
• The scale on the Peoria site, stated as 1 to 140 Million, is inconsistent, and the listed Pluto-Sun distance of 64km, if referring to mean orbital distance, is incorrect.
• Presque Isle, Maine - Scale: 1 to 93 Million (65km to Pluto)
• Sweden - Scale: 1 to 20 Million (300km to Pluto)

Neat Sites

• Links Metapage - Page with extensive links related to modeling the solar system
• Exploratorium Scale Calculator - Use this site to determine scale size and distance for planets and astronomical objects
• Tours of Model Solar Systems - Entertaining story of a couple who toured the Peoria, Boston and Sweden models
• Nightime Model Plans - Details on how to create this model.