Download Solar System on a Map Worksheet

Solar System Scavenger Hunt – The State of Ohio
Directions:
1.) Collect the necessary materials (Ohio map, ruler, compass, and calculator).
The orbits of the gas giants can be traced on the large Ohio map, with the
sun located on the star marking the center of Columbus. The orbits of the
terrestrial planets are better traced on the inset map of Columbus, with the
sun located in Ohio Stadium. Note that the scale of the small map, though
not given is 1 inch equals approx. 2.5 miles (or 1 cm is approx. 1 mile).
2.) Use the clues below to find the location of the solar system planets on the
map of Ohio. Draw orbit of planet traveling through location determined.
3.) Based on the locations you’ve determined, the scale given on the map (i.e., x
inches = y miles), and the physical distances of the planets from the sun,
determine the physical scale conversion factor assumed.
Physical sun-planet distances:
Sun to Mercury:
Sun to Venus:
Sun to Earth:
Sun to Mars:
Sun to Jupiter:
Sun to Saturn:
Sun to Uranus:
Sun to Neptune:
Sun to Pluto:
0.387 AU = 57,900,000 km
0.723 AU = 108,200,000 km
1.000 AU = 149,600,000 km
1.524 AU = 227,900,000 km
5.203 AU = 778,300,000 km
9.555 AU = 1,429,000,000 km
19.22 AU = 2,875,000,000 km
30.11 AU = 4,504,000,000 km
39.54 AU = 5,916,000,000 km
Clues:
1.) The orbit of this planet crosses through the point where Ohio comes in contact with both
of its neighbors (_______________ and ______________) to the East. This planet is
_____________ .
2.) This planet passes through a small town North of Ohio’s Capital that bears the same
name as the famous American, Transcendentalist poet, _________
_______________________who wrote the essay Nature and a famous storybook
character who is always getting lost wearing his signature red and white stripes. This
planet is ________________ .
3.) The orbit of this planet passes through the home field of Columbus’ very own ‘football’
team (that is, if you use the term the way the rest of the world does…):
____________________ . This planet is _______________ .
4.) Inhabitants of this planet must be roller coaster fans because the orbit of this planet
passes just to the north edge of this famous, Ohio-based amusement park:
_________________. This planet is ___________________ .
5.) If your traveling West out of Columbus, this I-70 exit number _______ not only
intersects the orbit of this planet, but will take you directly to this city: ____________,
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
named after the larger, more well-known home to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. This
planet is _____________ .
If women really are from this planet, then they can stop to shop at Macy’s as their planet
passes through this intersection, known as Five Points, which marks the intersection of
these three local, Columbus streets: ________________, _______________, and
_________________. This planet is ___________.
The orbit of this planet passes by this library, ___________________, that Ohio
University students may frequent and that has the same name as the unique type of cap
worn by famous “King of the wild Frontier,” Davie Crockett. This planet is
____________________ .
This planet travels through the intersection of these two highways _______ and
__________, which make it easy for travelers coming into Columbus from the West to
completely by-pass most of the city and associated traffic. This planet is ____________ .
This planet’s orbit passes through the NE Columbus intersection of these two streets, one
named after home of the baseball team, the Indians: _____________, and one with the
same name as the military code systems that utilizes dashes and dots to spell words:
_______________. This planet is _______________.
Distances measured between the sun and each planet (both inches and miles):
Mercury _____________________________
Venus _______________________________
Earth ________________________________
Mars ________________________________
Jupiter _______________________________
Saturn _______________________________
Uranus _______________________________
Neptune ______________________________
Pluto _________________________________
Using the distances given to each planet on the previous page, determine the average scale factor
assumed for this exercise (i.e., 1 mile in Ohio equals how many km or AU in the solar system?):
Derived Scale factor: _________________________