What is it?
The Solar System Walk is a temporary art and science
installation. We have created a scale model of our solar system in which both the sizes of the planets and distances between them are to scale. In our model, one foot represents 1.2 million miles or an inch about 100,000 miles. This means the Sun would be ball about 8 1/2 inches in diameter and Pluto the size of a grain of sand three quarters of a mile away.
Where is it?
The Sun is located in Rennebohn Park (4800 block of Regent Street) on Madison's near west side. The walk ends at Pluto, which is located at Madison Fire Station #9 on the corner of
Regent and Midvale.
When can I see it?
The installation will be on display until Saturday, June 14, 2008. You are invited to stop by at any time and take the Solar System Walk on your own.
•The Madison Fire Department invites you to stop in at the end
of your walk for a tour of the fire station.
•On Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m. until noon, staff from
the Space Place will give a guided tour as well as have special
activities available for children.
Who made this?
Thanks go to John Nicholas Schweitzer for getting the project started and installed and to the Madison Fire Department for providing a welcoming end point.
Space Place staff served as astronomical consultants.
Graphic design was provided by Tsela Barr Design and images are courtesy of NASA.
Sample marker |
