View source for Astronomy:Solar System model

{{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 [[Astronomy:Orrery|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 [[Astronomy:Planet|planet]]s and [[Astronomy:Natural satellite|moon]]s in the [[Astronomy:Solar System|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|scale model]] of the Solar System a challenging task. As one example of the difficulty, the distance between the [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] and the [[Astronomy:Sun|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 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 [[Astronomy:Jupiter|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&nbsp;:&nbsp;…
! Sun dia.
! Earth dia.
! Sun–Earth
! Sun–Pluto
! Description
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Actual Solar System'''
|align=center| '''1'''
| '''1.392&nbsp;Gm'''
| '''12.76&nbsp;Mm'''
| '''149.6&nbsp;Gm'''
| '''5.914&nbsp;Tm'''
|
|-
| [[Astronomy:Sweden Solar System|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|Sweden}}
|align=right| 20,000,000
| 71&nbsp;m
| 65&nbsp;cm
| 7,600&nbsp;m
| 300&nbsp;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>
| {{flagicon|Australia}} Coonabarabran, {{wipe|Australia}}
|align=right| 38,000,000
| 37&nbsp;m
| 34&nbsp;cm
| 4,100&nbsp;m
| 205&nbsp;km
| permanent; drivable (est. 1997)
|-
| 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}} [[Organization:University of Maine at Presque Isle|University of Maine]]
|align=right| 93,000,000
| 15&nbsp;m
| 13.7&nbsp;cm
| 1,600&nbsp;m
| 64&nbsp;km
| permanent; drivable (est.2003)
|-
|Mont Megantic Dark Sky Reserve Great Solar System
|{{flagicon|Canada}} Parc national du Mont-Mégantic
|align=right| 100,000,000
|14&nbsp;m
|12.4&nbsp;cm
|1,450&nbsp;m
|57&nbsp;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 Online News |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 |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
|align=right| 100,000,000
|13.91&nbsp;m
|12&nbsp;cm
|1,496&nbsp;m
|59.06&nbsp;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>
| {{flagicon|USA}} Peoria, Illinois
|align=right| 125,000,000
| 11&nbsp;m
| 10.0&nbsp;cm
| 1,200&nbsp;m
| 47&nbsp;km
| permanent; drivable (est. 1992?)
|-
| Vienna Solar System
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Place:Vienna|Vienna]], Austria
|align=right| 163,764,706
| 8.5&nbsp;m
| 7.78&nbsp;cm
| 913&nbsp;m
| 36&nbsp;km
| ''under construction since 2018.'' Physical + Augmented Reality
|-
| Planet Lofoten
| {{flagicon|Norway}} Lofoten, {{wipe|Norway}}
|align=right| 200,000,000
| 7&nbsp;m
| ?
| ?
| 30&nbsp;km
| ''under construction''
|-
| Planet Trek Dane County
| {{flagicon|USA}} Madison, Wisconsin
|align=right| 200,000,000
| 7&nbsp;m
| 6.6&nbsp;cm
| 777&nbsp;m
| 38.3&nbsp;km
| permanent; fully accessible by foot and bike paths (est. 2009)
|-
| Sunspot Solar System Model
| {{flagicon|US}} Sunspot, New Mexico
|align=right| 250,000,000
| 5.6&nbsp;m
| 5.1&nbsp;cm
| 1.5&nbsp;m
| 23.6&nbsp;km
| permanent, drivable
|-
|Lethbridge Solar System Model
|{{flagicon|Canada}} 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, {{wipe|Spain}}
|align=right| 290,000,000
|4.8&nbsp;m
|4.4&nbsp;cm
|1.2&nbsp;m
|25&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 4&nbsp;cm
| ?
| ?
| In construction; Walk & Drive (est. 2018) Centered around Deans Yard, Westminster
|-
| Light Speed Planet Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Anchorage, [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]]
|align=right| 350,000,000
| ?
| ?
| ?
| 16.6&nbsp;km
| permanent; drivable (est. 2005)
|-
|-
| Moab's Scale Model of the Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} Moab, Utah
|align=right| 400,000,000
| 3.6&nbsp;m
| ?
| ?
| 15.3&nbsp;km
| permanent; Walk and Drive (est. 2007)
|-
| Community Solar System Trail
| {{flagicon|USA}} Boston, {{wipe|Massachusetts}}
|align=right| 400,000,000
| 3.5&nbsp;m
| 3.2&nbsp;cm
| 380&nbsp;m
| 15.3&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 3.1&nbsp;cm
| 361&nbsp;m
| 14.3&nbsp;km
| permanent; drivable; bikeable
|-
| [[Astronomy:Somerset Space Walk|Somerset Space Walk]]
| {{flagicon|UK}} Bridgwater Canal, Somerset UK 
|align=right| 530,000,000
| 2.5&nbsp;m
| ?
| ?
| 11&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 1997)
|-
| York’s Solar System model
| {{flagicon|UK}} York, {{wipe|England}}
|align=right| 575,872,239
| 2.4&nbsp;m
| 2.2&nbsp;cm
| 260&nbsp;m
| 10.3&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 1999)
|-
|Traverse Bay Community Solar System
|{{flagicon|USA}} Traverse City, Michigan
|align=right| 592,763,356
| 0.9&nbsp;m
| ?
| 209&nbsp;m
| 10.0&nbsp;km
|permanent; bikeable (est. 2004)
|-
|Michigan Solar System Model
|{{flagicon|USA}} Coleman, Michigan
|align=right| 608,000,000
| 2.3&nbsp;m
| 2.1&nbsp;cm
| 324&nbsp;m
| 9.8&nbsp;km
| permanent; bike trail Sun and Pls. Spheres (2017)
|-
|Solar System
| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Opava, [[Place:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]
|align=right| 627,000,000
| 2.2&nbsp;m
| 2.0&nbsp;cm
| 239&nbsp;m
| 9.42&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable; walkable; drivable (est. 2006)
|-
| [[Astronomy:Nine Views|Nine Views]]
| {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Place:Zagreb|Zagreb]], Croatia
|align=right| 680,000,000
| 2.0&nbsp;m
| 1.9&nbsp;cm
| 225&nbsp;m
| 8.7&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 2004)
|-
| Walk the Solar System
| {{flagicon|Canada}} Fort St. John, British Columbia, {{wipe|Canada}}
|align=right| 682,353,000
| 2.0&nbsp;m
| 1.9&nbsp;cm
| 219&nbsp;m
| 8.6&nbsp;km
| ''under construction''
|-
|  McCarthy Observatory
| {{flagicon|USA}} New Milford, Connecticut
|align=right| 761,155,000
| 1.8&nbsp;m
| 1.7&nbsp;cm
| 195&nbsp;m
| 7.1&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 2009)
|-
| Planet Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Glen Burnie, Maryland. 
|align=right| 781,000,000
| ?
| ?
| 191.5&nbsp;m
| 7.56&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 1.533&nbsp;cm
| 180&nbsp;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}} [[Place:Helsinki|Helsinki]], {{wipe|Finland}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;cm
| 149.6&nbsp;m
| 6.1&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable
|-
|Planetenmodell Hagen
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Hagen, {{wipe|Germany}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 1959)
|-
| Planetenweg Schwarzbach
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Kriftel, {{wipe|Germany}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 1998)
|-
| Uetliberg Planetenweg
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Zurich, {{wipe|Switzerland}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable
|-
|Planetenwanderweg
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Ehrenfriedersdorf, {{wipe|Germany}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable
|-
| Planetary Trail
| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Hradec Králové, [[Place:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 2005)
|-
|Planetary Trail
| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Place:Prague|Prague]], [[Place:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| {{nowrap|13&nbsp;km (Sedna as discovered)}}<br />5.9&nbsp;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}} [[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]], {{wipe|Australia}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km (Pluto) <br/>40 140&nbsp;km (Proxima Centauri)
| permanent; bikeable (est. 2008) Proxima Centauri scale distance calculated travelling Melbourne to Melbourne via the Poles.<ref>https://stkildamelbourne.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Solar_System_Self_Guided_Trail_web_friendly.pdf</ref> 
|-
| Scale Model Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} Eugene, Oregon
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; bikeable (est. 1997)
|-
| Planetstien, Sandnes
| {{flagicon|Norway}} Sandnes, {{wipe|Norway}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable, bikeable (est. 2010)
|-
| Planetstien, Lemvig
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} Lemvig, {{wipe|Denmark}}
|align=right| 1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 6&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2018)
|-
| Planet Walk
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Place:Munich|Munich]], {{wipe|Germany}}
|align=right| 1,290,000,000
| 1.1&nbsp;m
| 1.0&nbsp;cm
| 116&nbsp;m
| 4.6&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 1995)

|-
| Strolling at the speed of light
| {{flagicon|Canada}} La Malbaie, Quebec, {{wipe|Canada}}
|align=right| 1,500,000,000
| 0.9&nbsp;m
| 0.8&nbsp;cm
| 100&nbsp;m
| 3&nbsp;km (Neptune)
| permanent; walkable (est. 2009) (temp?)
|-
| State of the Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}}  Bellingham, {{wipe|Washington (state)}} 
|align=right| 1,826,770,000
| 0.762&nbsp;m
| 0.6858&nbsp;cm
| 82&nbsp;m
| ?
| permanent; walkable (est. 2016)
|-
| Meteoria Söderfjärden
| {{flagicon|Finland}} Vaasa, {{wipe|Finland}}
|align=right| 2,000,000,000
| 0.7&nbsp;m
| ?
| ?
| ?
| permanent; walkable
|-
| Planetenweg Göttingen
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Göttingen, {{wipe|Germany}}
|align=right| 2,000,000,000
| 0.70&nbsp;m
| 0.65&nbsp;cm
| 75&nbsp;m
| 3.2&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2013)
|-
| Solar System Walking Tour
| {{flagicon|USA}} Gainesville, Georgia
|align=right| 2,000,000,000
| 0.7&nbsp;m
| 0.6&nbsp;cm
| 75&nbsp;m
| 2.9&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 2000)
|-
| Rymdpromenaden ("Spacewalk")
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} Gothenburg, Sweden
|align=right| 2,000,000,000
| 0.7&nbsp;m
| 0.6&nbsp;cm
| 75&nbsp;m
| 3&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 1978)
|-
| Montshire Museum of Science
| {{flagicon|USA}} Norwich, Vermont
|align=right| 2,200,000,000
| 0.6&nbsp;m
| 0.6&nbsp;cm
| 68&nbsp;m
| 2.7&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable
|-
| Ride to Pluto: Boise's Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} Boise Greenbelt, Boise, Idaho
|align=right| 2,200,000,000
| 0.5&nbsp;m
| ?
| ?
| 2.4&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable & bikeable
|-
| The Solar walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Longview, {{wipe|Washington (state)}}
|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&nbsp;m
| 0.6&nbsp;cm
| ?&nbsp;m
| 2.7&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 2001)
|-
| Akaa Solar System Scale Model
| {{Flagicon|Finland}} Akaa, Finland
|align=right| 3,000,000,000
| 0.46&nbsp;m
| 0.4&nbsp;cm
| 49.9&nbsp;m
| 1.958&nbsp;km (Pluto) <br/> 13 370&nbsp;km (Proxima Centauri)
| permanent; walkable (est. 2017), Proxima Centauri in Yulara, Australia
|-
| Elmhurst Scale Model of the Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} Elmhurst, Illinois
|align=right| 3,044,620,000
| 0.5&nbsp;m
| 0.4&nbsp;cm
| 49.1&nbsp;m
| 1.929&nbsp;km
| permanent; walk & drive (est. 2013)
|-
| Solar System model group of sculptures
| {{flagicon|Hungary}} Kecskemét, Hungary
|align=right| 3,300,000,000
| 0.418&nbsp;m
| 0.4&nbsp;cm <!-- described as "borsószemnyi", the size of a pea -->
| 45&nbsp;m <!-- calculated -->
| 1.8&nbsp;km <!-- calculated -->
| permanent; walkable (est. 2002)
|-
| Milky Way path
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Westerbork, The Netherlands
|align=right| 3,700,000,000
| ?
| ?
| ?
| 2.5&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable
|-
| Solar Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Gainesville, Florida
|align=right| 4,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 37.4&nbsp;m
| 1.5&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 2002)
|-
| Otford Solar System Model <ref>https://www3.astronomicalheritage.net/index.php/heritage/places-connected-to-the-sky?place=otford-solar-system-united-kingdom</ref>
| {{flagicon|UK}} Otford, England
|align=right| 4,595,700,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 32&nbsp;m
| 900&nbsp;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
|align=right| 5,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 30&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 2014)

|-
| [[Sagan Planet Walk|The Sagan Planet Walk]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ithaca, New York
|align=right| 5,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 30&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable (est. 1997)
|-
| Delmar Loop Planet Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} University City, Missouri
|align=right| 5,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.2&nbsp;cm
| 30&nbsp;m
| 870&nbsp;m (Neptune)
| permanent; walkable (est. 2009)
|-
|The Solar Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Cleveland, Ohio
|align=right| 5,280,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.2&nbsp;cm
| 28.4&nbsp;m
| 1.1&nbsp;km
| permanent; walkable
|-
|Solar System Walk
An Exploration of Scale
|{{flagicon|USA}} Carlsbad, California
|align=right| 5,280,000,000
| ?
| ?
| 28&nbsp;m
| 1.119&nbsp;km
|Located near Lake Calavera
|-
| O Sistema Solar no Parque
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Natal, {{wipe|Brazil}}
|align=right| 7,000,000,000
| 0.2&nbsp;m
| 1.8&nbsp;mm
| 22&nbsp;m
| 875&nbsp;m
| permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. June 3rd, 2016)
|-
| Voyage
| {{flagicon|USA}} {{ubl|National Mall, [[Place:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]] (2001)|
Kansas City, Missouri (2008){{efn|Power & Light District to Union Station}}|
Space Center Houston, {{wipe|Texas}} (2008)|
Corpus Christi, Texas (2009)}}Boulder, Colorado (2021) 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}}</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> Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (2022) Ocala, Florida (2022) Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (2022) Dover, New Hampshire (2023) Spokane, Washington (2022) Memphis, Tennessee (2023) Chalmette, Louisiana (2023)
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 0.1&nbsp;m
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| 15&nbsp;m
| 600&nbsp;m
|permanent; walkable; US national program
|-
|Lake Innitou Thousand Yard Interplanetary Walk
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Woburn, Massachusetts
|10,000,000,000
|0.23&nbsp;m (bowling ball)
|N/A (stone plaque)
|24&nbsp;m
|932&nbsp;m (1019&nbsp;yd)
|permanent; walkable (est. 2004); along the sidewalk by Horn Pond.
|-
| NJ Botanical Garden
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ringwood, New Jersey
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 0.2&nbsp;m
| 2.0&nbsp;cm
| 23.8&nbsp;m
| 927&nbsp;m
| walkable
|-
| Colorado Scale Model Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Astronomy:Fiske Planetarium|Fiske Planetarium]], Boulder, Colorado
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 0.1&nbsp;m
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| 15&nbsp;m
| 600&nbsp;m
| permanent; walkable (est. 1987)
|-
| Anstruther Model Solar System
| {{flagicon|UK}} Anstruther, Scotland
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 0.1&nbsp;m
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| 15&nbsp;m
| 600&nbsp;m
| permanent; walkable (est. 2014)
|-
| Le Chemin Solaire
| {{flagicon|France}} La Couyère, Brittany
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 1&nbsp;m
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| ?
| 450&nbsp;m
| permanent; walkable (est. 2011)
|-
| Solar Walk UofT Scarborough
| {{flagicon|Canada}} Toronto, Ontario and [[Place:Eureka, Nunavut|Eureka, Nunavut]]
|align=right| 10,000,000,000
| 0.14&nbsp;m
| 0.13&nbsp;cm
| 15&nbsp;m
| 591&nbsp;m
| permanent; walkable/bikeable (est. 2017)
|-
| MIT's Infinite Solar System
| {{flagicon|USA}} Cambridge, {{wipe|Massachusetts}}
|align=right| 30,000,000,000
| 4.6&nbsp;cm
| 0.43&nbsp;mm
| 5.0&nbsp;m
| 200&nbsp;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, {{wipe|Los Angeles}}, {{wipe|California}}
|align=right| 105,000,000,000
| 1.32&nbsp;cm
| 0.12&nbsp;mm
| 1.42&nbsp;m
| 56&nbsp;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
|-
| [[Astronomy: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}} Bugibba, 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}} [[Place:The Hague|The Hague]], Netherlands
| 1:696,000,000
| 2.0&nbsp;m
| 1.8&nbsp;cm
| 215&nbsp;m
| 6.5&nbsp;km (Neptune)
| (temporary)
|-
| Sol Chicago
| {{flagicon|USA}} Illinois, {{wipe|Chicago}}
| 1:73,660,000
| 19&nbsp;m
| 17.3&nbsp;cm
| 2,050&nbsp;m
| 61&nbsp;km (Neptune)
| (temporary) proposed
|-
| Le Chemin des planètes
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} {{nowrap|Saint-Luc, {{wipe|Switzerland}}}}
| 1:1,000,000,000
| 1.4&nbsp;m
| 1.3&nbsp;cm
| 150&nbsp;m
| 5.9&nbsp;km
| uses two different scales for distance and size
|-
| The Madison Planet Stroll
| {{flagicon|USA}} Madison, Wisconsin
| 1:4,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 37&nbsp;m
| 1.5&nbsp;km
| (virtual)
|-
|Solar System Stroll
| {{flagicon|Australia}} Perth, Western Australia
| 1:5,000,000,000
| 0.3&nbsp;m
| 0.3&nbsp;cm
| 30&nbsp;m
| 1.2&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 0.2&nbsp;cm
| 25&nbsp;m
| 1&nbsp;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&nbsp;m
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| 15&nbsp;m
| 0.6&nbsp;km
| (dismantled) (est. 1985)
|-
| Lafayette Walk
| {{flagicon|USA}} Detroit, Michigan
| 1:6,336,000,000
| 23&nbsp;cm
| 0.2&nbsp;cm
| 25&nbsp;m
| 983&nbsp;m
| A walking demonstration of (un)imaginable distances.  "It's nowhere near Graham's Number."
|-
| Planets on the Path
| {{flagicon|USA}} {{wipe|Chicago}}, Illinois
| 1:2,195,000,000
| 
| 
| 457&nbsp;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&nbsp;cm
| 0.1&nbsp;cm
| 12.5&nbsp;m
| 492&nbsp;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.
|}

Several sets of [[Engineering:Geocaching|geocaching]] caches have been laid out as Solar System models.

==See also==
*[[Astronomy:Numerical model of the Solar System|Numerical model of the Solar System]]
*[[Astronomy:Historical models of the Solar System|Historical models of the Solar System]]
*Infinite Corridor

==References==
{{Notelist|refs=
}}
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.zenite.nu/o-sistema-solar-no-parque/]

==External links==
*[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://web.archive.org/web/20110719181012/http://solar-system.owl-hollow.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}}

[[Category:Solar System|Model]]
[[Category:Physics education]]
[[Category:Scale modeling]]

{{Sourceattribution|Solar System model}}