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Scale of the Solar System
Astronomy
Name:
Date:
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Interplanetary travel is extremely difficult due to the almost unimaginable distances between the
planets in our solar system. Voyager II, traveling at nearly 50,000 mph took 12 years to reach the
planet Neptune! This gives you an idea of just how far our planets are from each other. However, we
can make a scale model of the distances between the planets using almost anything as our
reference. In doing so, we may be able to determine a variety of ways to classify the planets of our
solar system and get an idea of just how much space there is in space. Still, even with all of the
technological advances that have been made in the last several years, it is almost impossible to
make a scale model of the solar system that is correct in both planetary diameter and distance.
Engage:
The picture above represents how the planets are often represented in space. Above the picture, write
the names of the planets in the proper order. What does this picture get right and what does this
picture get wrong?
You now know that the planets are not equidistant. In the space below, place the planets where YOU
believe they sit in our solar system (draw a dot for each planet – don’t worry about planet size). Take
into consideration how much space you believe exists between planets and how close to the sun they
are. Write the name above each dot you place. You may want to write the names at 90 degree angles
to the box in order to fit them properly.
Next, discuss at your table where you believe the planets to lie in our solar system. As a group, come up
with an agreement about where the planets are located and indicate them below.
Now let’s see!
Procedure:
To begin, let’s get an idea of the scaled size of the planets relative to one another. Using a compass and
colored construction paper, create “planets” using the following table. Don’t forget to label them so
you remember which is which!
PLANET/DWARF PLANET
DIAMETER
Mercury
3,032 miles
Venus
7,521 miles
Earth
7,926 miles
Mars
4,222 miles
Jupiter
88,846 miles
Saturn
74,898 miles
Uranus
31,763 miles
Neptune
30,778 miles
Pluto
1,475 miles
The sun is 100 cm in diameter at this scale!!!
SCALED DIAMETER
0.3 cm
0.8 cm
0.9 cm
0.5 cm
10 cm
8 cm
3 cm
3 cm
0.1 cm
Now that you have your scaled planets, let’s head outside and scale the distances between them…
Scale of the Solar System – Page 2
Astronomy
Name:
Date:
Pd:
Below you will find the actual scaled distances of the solar system. Move the planets to where they
actually belong and make notes in the space below about what you got wrong and what is most
surprising about the actual spacing.
PLANET/DWARF
DISTANCE FROM SUN DISTANCE FROM SUN
SHUTTLE TRAVEL
PLANET
(MILES)
(SCALED)
TIME FROM EARTH
Mercury
36,000,000
40 cm
52 days
Venus
67,000,000
70 cm
100 days
Earth
93,000,000
1m
--Mars
142,000,000
1.5 m
210 days
Jupiter
484,000,000
5.2 m
1.9 years
Saturn
897,000,000
9.6 m
3.6 years
Uranus
1,785,000,000
19.2 m
7.3 years
Neptune
2,793,000,000
30.1 m
11.4 years
Pluto
3,647,000,000
39.3 m
15.1 years
By the way – to make a true scaled model, you would have to multiply each distance by 100 to make
them fit the size of your cut-out planets!!!
Notes about changes:
Discussion:
1. Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting terrestrial and jovian planets.
2. Alpha Centauri, the closest visible star to our solar system, is located 25,000,000,000,000 miles
away. How many meters away is it in our scaled solar system? Show your work.
3. On August 24, 2006 Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet. How has the data in this activity
support that decision?
4. Look at the shuttle travel times in the table above, why might it take longer to get to Venus today
than it does Mercury? Include a sketch to help explain your answer.
Conclusion: Write a paragraph summarizing your findings from this activity.