PASSPORT to the SOLAR SYSTEM

Transcripción

PASSPORT
to the
SOL AR SYSTEM
SAGAN PLANET WALK
Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY
HOW TO USE THIS PASSPORT
The Sciencenter of Ithaca, New York, U.S.A. hereby requests
all whom it may concern to permit the citizen of the Solar
System named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and
in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.
Take your fully stamped passport to the Sciencenter
for one free admission! If you are unable to get your
passport stamped at one or more locations, you can get
it stamped at the Sciencenter. (Free admission not valid
with any other discounts. Passports downloaded from
www.sciencenter.org do not qualify for free admission.)
For school group reservations and group passport
purchases call the Sciencenter at 607.272.0600.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
AUDIO TOUR
Learn more about the Solar System and the planets as
you explore the Sagan Planet Walk! This free tour is
narrated by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Listen to the tour by phone at: 703.637.6237
YOUR EARTH AGE:
The text about the Solar System in this passport was written by Ann Druyan. Portions
consist of excerpted passages from: PALE BLUE DOT: Copyright ©1994 by Carl Sagan;
COSMOS: ©1980 by Carl Sagan Productions, Inc.; and COMET: ©1985 by Carl Sagan
and Ann Druyan. Portions ©1997 by Ann Druyan and the Estate of Carl Sagan. All
rights reserved.
Before you begin your journey, record your name and
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After visiting each station, get your passport stamped
at a nearby location as proof of your visit to each planet.
TODAY’S EARTH DATE:
Download the tour as a podcast from iTunes or:
www.sciencenter.org/saganpw
PEOPLE TRAVELING WITH YOU:
PACE THE SPACE
Signature of Bearer
NOT VALID UNTIL SIGNED
The Sagan Planet Walk is a model of our Solar System
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Starting with the Sun on the Commons in downtown
Ithaca, this walking tour leads to the Sciencenter. Both
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are accurately scaled and displayed.
1
PA S S P O RT
S TA M P I N G
LO C AT I O N S
Sun, Mercury,
Venus, Earth
and Mars
Jupiter and Saturn
4 The Cat’s Pajamas
DeWitt Mall
Saturn and Uranus
5 Kinney Drugs
513 N. Cayuga St.
6 P&C Market
212 Hancock St.
Customer Service Desk
Neptune
2 15 Steps Gallery
171 The Commons
Pluto
1 M&T Bank
The Commons
Customer Service Desk
Asteroids
7
St
Aub
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St
Tom
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1st St
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If you are unable to get
your passport stamped
at one or more locations,
you can get it stamped at
the Sciencenter.
URANUS
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7 Sciencenter
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3 Tompkins Trust
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Inside at the Teller Line
116 E Seneca St.
PLUTO
NEPTUNE
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SATURN
JUPITER
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MARS
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Traveler beware:
Five-billion-year-old nuclear
fusion reactor in operation!
Think of the Sun’s heat on your upturned face on a
cloudless summer day; think how dangerous it is to
gaze at the Sun directly. From 150 million kilometers
away, we recognize its power. What would we feel on its
seething, self-luminous surface, or immersed in its heart
of nuclear fire? And yet, our Sun is just an ordinary star,
one of 400 billion in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is one
of billions, perhaps hundreds of billions, of galaxies in
the Universe.
Someday, five or six billion years from now, when all
the hydrogen fuel in its interior has been converted into
helium, the Sun will begin to evolve into a Red Giant.
Ruddy and bloated, it will envelop and devour the planets
Mercury and Venus—and probably the Earth as well.
The inner Solar System will then reside within the Sun.
Fun Facts
SU E LCO
N
W
NTER
THE CE
TH E C EN TE R
OF
WE
K
IL
OU
SYS
OF O
R S O L A R SYS T E M
UR SOLAR
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4 U RY
5 8 M IL LI O N
OM
ETER
U
S FRO M T H E S
O M E TO V E
W E LC
NU
K
IL
O THE SUN
ME T
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ETER
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EL
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MERCU
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R Y ’S D
Sun
TE R IS
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ER
SUN DIAMETER
= 1,392,000km2 .6
M E TE R
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TH A N
980km
TER = 4,
Y DIAME
MERCUR
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R
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R
1.0 5 T
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I
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OM
OM
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T IM E S
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E A R TH
ME
’S D I A
ES
.7 T IM
TE R IS
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R
M E TE R
Hot days, cool nights
Don’t pack light for a trip to the
Sun’s nearest neighbor.
With daytime temperatures usually peaking at nearly
400 degrees C and plummeting at night to a nippy 150
degrees C below zero, we advise bringing both your parka
and your swimsuit when you travel to Mercury. While
the weather may be a bit extreme (a little like Ithaca), we
can guarantee that during your stay, time will seem to
fly by: One year on Mercury is only 88 Earth days long.
Thought to be composed mostly of magnetic iron,
Mercury is not much larger than our Moon and is
similarly scarred with impact craters from the cosmic
R IS
A M E TE
collisions of eons.
N ’S D I
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Y DIAME
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UR
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42km
M A RS’
DIAME
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Acid rain on the horizon
It’s always raining sulfuric acid on Venus, all over
the planet, and not a drop ever reaches the surface.
With searing heat, crushing pressures, noxious gases,
and everything suffused in an eerie, reddish glow, Venus
seems less the goddess of love than the incarnation of hell.
It appears at least some places on the surface are strewn
fields of jumbled, softened, irregular rocks—a hostile,
barren landscape
only here and there by the eroded
T O T H relieved
E SU
LCOM E
N spacecraft from a distant planet,
WE
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TE
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MARS
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The water planet
Imagine you’re an extra-terrestrial,
viewing Earth from far, far away.
WE
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ES
1 0 9 T IM ’S
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R
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life? Not from out here. Not
visually, at least. There are radio signals. (But whether
E R C U RY
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they
or not is open to debate.) You’ll
RO M
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WE
W have to get closer. At 100-meter resolution, everything
L IO N
changes.
covered with
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straight
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carbon
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interconnected Elife
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attraction?
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m
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sandstorms, and
a
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Although it is sometimes as warm
as an Ithaca October,
Y
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Mars is a chilly place,
cold
that
some
of
R IS thin
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’S D I A M
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M E RC U RY out as dry ice
carbon dioxide
O atmosphere freezes
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TER
2 .6
N
winter pole.
S FRO
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AMETER
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Still, this world of wonders has plenty to offer spacefaring
’S D I A
METER
L C O M E T O climbing? How about a trek
M
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R
tourists. IntoW Emountain
CURY DI
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US
= 4,98
S U up Olympus Mons? At a height
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KI
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than Mt. I Everest.
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the
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1
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.0
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makes our Grand Canyon seem, well … less … grand.
And
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Memorial Station, headquarters
for the plucky robotic
TH
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KI
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N
N
5 8 M IL L IO
THAN
K
N
K
IL
E TO E A RT H
IO N
15 0 M IL L
KI
LOM
E TE RS FRO M
THE
SU
IL
K
LC
WE
O M A RS
OME T
ME
ILLION
TER
S FRO
SU N
M T H E Fun
W E LCO M E TO M
AR
N
W
OM
E LC
O
O
228 M
ILLION
ME
TER
DIAMETE
R IS
R
S B IG G E
3 .7 T IM E
R
DIAMETE
’S
E MOON
THAN TH
Facts
12,742km
AMETER =
EARTH DI
S
N
S FRO
M THE SU
IO N OME TO THE AS
2 2 8 M IL L WELC
TER
OI
D
S U THERE ARE
KI
12
E
LOM
TH
MILLIO
E TE RS FRO M
NS
OF AS
TE
E A RT H ’S
IAMETE
M A RS ’ D
EARTH
’S D I A
METER
3 . 7 T IM
IS
E S B IG
THAN
GER
THE M
OO
N ’S D
IAMET
ER
EARTH
DIAMET
ER = 12,
742km
R IS
E R M ARS
S S M A LL
’ DIAM
E T E R IS
1.9 T IM E
R1 .9
TE
E
M
A
I
T IM E S
RT H ’S D
THAN EA
SM ALL
THAN
ER
EAR
760km
ETER = 6,
MARS DIAM
N
W
T H ’S D
IAME
TER
MARS DI
AMETER
= 6,760
km
S
IN
W
EL
R IO D
S
OU
R
T H E A S T E RO I S O L A R S Y S T E M
O
T
DS
ME
CO
IN
RE
TH ER E A
M IL L IOIONWDSS
O F A ST ER
M
77S T E
R S Y8 M
O
K
UR SOLA
IL
O
W
ELC
ME
E LCO M E TO J
UPI
T
ER
ILLION
TER
N
T O J U P IST EFRR O M T H E S U
OME
ES T
T H E L A RG
BO U T
R ES IS A
E
C
D
I
THE L A
A S T E RO
RGEST
ALL
S TE
E RRO I D
A
M
S
CERES
S
E
IM
T
IS A B O
4
N
O
4
O
UT
RT H ’S M T IM E S
SM ALL
THAN EA
THAN
ER
m
932k E A R T H ’S
=
ER
ET
AM
MOON
CERES DI
CERES
DIAMET
ER = 93
2km
T E R IS
S DIAME
J U P IT
ER
IG
E RG
B
’S
ES
11.2 T IM11. 2D I A M E TEDRI A M E T E R IS
T
’S
H
IM
RT
E S B IG
THAN EA TH
GER
AN EA
m
60
TH
’S0k
= 14R2,
J U PI TE R’
Mars
13
WE
LCOM E TO T H E SU
N
E TO T H E SU
LCOM
N
WE
H E SU N ’S D I A M E T E R IS
T H E SU N ’S D I ATM
E T E R IS
TH E CE NT ER
THE CENTE R
OF
OUR
WE
LO
A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
T H A N E A RT H ’S TDHI A
M E TE R
M
S O L A R SYS TE
OF
TEM
OUR S
O L A R SYS
SUN DIAMETER = 1,392,000km
SUN DIAMETER = 1,39
2,000km
LCO M E TO M E RCU
WE
KI
TIM ES BIGGER
10 9 TIM ES 109
BIG GE
R
RY
M E TO M E RCU
RY
LCO
M E RCU RY’S D I A M E T E R IS
M E RCU RY’S D I A M
E T E R IS
Look out! Look out!
58 MI LLI ON
N
58 MILLIO
N
ME
WEL
ES SM ALLER
2.6
2.6 TIM ES SM
ALTIM
LER
H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
T H A N E A RT H ’S D TI A
M E TE R
SU
TERS F K
THE
R OIM
UN
LO
MET
E S
ERS FRO M T H
DIAMETER = 4,980km
MERCURY DIAMETERMERCURY
= 4,980km
Big rocks ahead! Asteroids are smaller
than
planets, but still huge compared to you!
CO M E TO
VEN
US
V E N Uof the Sun’s neighborhood where traffic
You Eare
inE TaOpart
LCOM
S
V E N US’ D I A M E E RV E N US’ D I A M E T E R IS
W
IS
particularly heavy. Here, in between
the orbits ofT1.05
Mars
10 8 MI LLIisON
TIM ES BIGGER
1.0 5 TIM ES BIG
GE
KI
and108
Jupiter,
areN
hundreds of thousands
ofN tiny
rockyH A N RE A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
MILLIO
THA
LO
E A RT H ’S D I ATM
N
E
TE
R
ME
S U left over from the formation of the Solar System.
TERS F
Kworlds,
THE
N
ROM
ILO
MET
SU
THE
VENUS DIAMETER = 12,360km
60km
ERS FRO M
Why didn’t
they collide with each other to form planets
E
M
T
O
O
the
way
so many other little worlds did? We think it’s
C
EAR
WEL
TH
TO E A RT
because
ofE Jupiter’s
hold on them.
LCOM
H massive gravitational
E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R IS
WE
IS
Jupiter
orbiting
just
outside
this
lane
of asteroids,
15 0 MI LLIWith
ON
3.7 TIM ES BIGGER
3.7 TIM ES BIG GE
R
KI
its gravitation
pull
N keeps them fromT Hgetting
T H E M O O N ’S D I A M E T E R
N If
150N MILLIO
A N T H E M together.
LO
O O N ’S TDHI AAM
ETER
ME
U
S
TERS F
you
should
want
to
visit
one
of
them,
remember
to
bring
N
R O MKTI LH E
U
EARTH DIAMETER = 12,7EARTH DIAMETER = 12,742km
OM
42km
E S
plenty
E T Eof
R Soxygen.
F R O M T H Asteroids don’t have atmospheres.
W E LC
KI
W
O M E TO M A
R
LO
ME
E LC
O M E TO T H E A S T E R
THE RE ARE
OUR
WEL
WE
KI
MILLIO N
DS
TO T H E A S T E R
OID
OM E
E LC
S
THERE ARE
MILLIO NS
CO M E TO J U PIT
ER
WE
LCOM
E TO J U PIT
ER
N
WE
E
ERS FRO M T H
LCOM
E T O S AT U R
M E TE R
MARS DIAMETER = 6,76 MARS DIAMETER = 6,760km
0km
T H E L A RG ES T
N
SU
N
N
N1,430 MILLIO
SU
TERS F
N
ROM THE K IL
SU
OM
E TERS FRO M T H E
Asteroids come in many
shapes and sizes
T H E L A RG ES T
A S T E RO I D C E R ES IS A BO U T
A BO U T
4 TIM ES SM AL LER4 TIM ES SM ALLER
T H A N E A RT H ’S M O O N
ON
Asteroids
CERES DIAMETER = 932k CERES DIAMETER = 932km
m
J U PITE R’S D I A M E T E
R IS
J U PITE R’S D I A M E T E R IS
11.2 TIM ES BIGGER
11. 2 TIM ES BIG GE R
778 MILLIO N
N
SU
TERS F
R O M T H EK I L
OM
ET
L C O M E T O S AT U R
ME
Fun Facts
M
OF ASTERIODS
S O L A R SYS T E
IN
TEM
OUR
S O L A R SYS
1,4 30 MI LLI ON
LO
TIM ES SM ALLER
1.9 TIM ES SM AL1.9
LER
OI
W
14
778 MI LLI ON
ME
M A RS’ D I A M E T E R IS M A RS’ D I A M E T E R IS
228
N
SU
TERS F
N
R O M TKHI LE
SU
OM
E TERS FRO M T H E
OF AST ERIO DS
IN
LO
LCO M E TO M A RS
WE
22 8 MI LLI ON
MI LLI ON S
KI
S
M E TE R
JUPITER DIAMETER = 142,600km
JUPITER DIAMETER =
142,600km
SAT U R N ’S D I A M E T
E R IS
SAT U R N ’S D I A M E T E R IS
9.5 TIM ES BIG GE R 9.5 TIM ES BIGGER
M E TE R
SATURN DIAMETER = 120,600km
SATURN DIAMETER = 120,
600km
15
TH E CE
R ER
N T ENT
TOH E C E
S
M E TE R
IS
M E TE R
A
I
D
SUN UDIAM
R Y ’SETER = 1,392,000km
MERC
ER
M
F O
U R S O Y SSTYE S T E M
L AS R
OF O
UR SOLAR
ES
2 .6 T IM
RU
E REC
L C O M E T OMM
CU
RY
W E O M E TO
RY
E LC
W
58 MI LLI
N
ON
L IO
5 8 M IL
KI
TH A N
TE R
N
M E TE R
IS
M E TE R
A
I
D
MERCURY
’
U S ETER = 4,980km
V E NDIAM
IM E S
1.0 5 T
’S
CO M E TO
E NVUE N U S
TVO
S
OME
E LC
W
WEL
TH A N
The giant planet
10 8 MI LLI ON
L IO N
10 8 M IL
N
LO
E
SM ALL
DIAME
A R TH ’S
980km
TER = 4,
M ERC
RCUY DIAME
ME UR RY’S D I A M E T E R IS
LO
SUUN
ME
T
KI
E ES
MMT HT H
L O M ERS FRO
O
R
F
ETERS
KI
10 9 TIM ES BIG GE R
U
MKE
U NE S
ITLEOR S F R O M T HOE MS T H
M E T E RS FR
The star that failed.
B IG G E
E A R TH
R
TE R
DIAME
km
= 12,360
AMETER
V E NVE
US’
NUSD IDI
A M E T E R IS
M E TE R
R IS
I A M E TE
D
’S
VENUS DIAMEETER
A R TH= 12,360km
GE
E S B IG
R
N
TE R
3 .7 T IM gas
As the Solar System condensed out of the interstellar
DIAME
O O N ’S
C O M E T O EM
EARTH
TH E M
O
L
T
A
E
N
E
A
R
TH that was
W
and
O T Hdust, Jupiter acquired most of the matter
km
E LC
= 12,742
W
AMETER
H EDI
not ejected into interstellar space and did
inward
E A RTnot
H ’S EDfall
AR
I ATM
T E R IS
15 0 MI LLIto
N Sun. That was a lot of stuff—so
ON
IL L IO
form
the
much
that
3.7 TIM
ES BIG
GE R
15 0 M
KI
U planet more than twice
THAN
LO
T Hmassive
E M O O N ’S Das
it
resulted
in
a
as
S
N
I A Mall
ETER
ME
E
U
S
K
H
T E R SI LF
T
R IS
T H E F R O M planets
O
RO
I A M E TE
of the Solar System EAR
put
MM
Ethe
T E R Sother
TH together.
DIAMETER M A R S ’ D
LL
ES SM A
= 12,742km
ER
N
T IM
R
1.9say
However, had this giant planet been even larger,
I A M E TE
TH ’S D
O M E TO M A M E TO M A RS
N EAR
C
A
L
E
TH
W
RO
twelve
times larger, the matter in its interior would have 6,760km
E LC S
TER =
W
S DIAME
undergone thermonuclear reactions, and
M AJupiter
MEAR
RS’ D I A M E Twould
R IS
N
22 8 MI LLI ON
IL L IOto shine by its own light.1.9
have
begun
Even
interior
TIMso,
ES its
SM AL
28 M
LER
2
KI
U high enough to generate
T H A N E Atwice
LO
S
temperatures
are
as
RT
H
’S
D
I
A
N
M much
E TE R
E
ME
U
K
H
S
RGEST
T E R S F I L OT H E
M T planet receives from the Sun.
TH E L A
R O M energy
M E T E R S as
F R Othe
ABOUT
MARS DIAMETER
E R E S IS
= 6,760km
OID C
A S TE R
W
MI LLI ON S
IN
OUR
WEL
KI
CO M E TO J U PIT
E
ME
R
L C O M E T O S AT U R
16
N
1,4 30 MI LLI ON
LO
ME
ME
ELC
OME
IL L IO N
W
US
TERS F
ROM THE
N
SU
DIAME
TE R IS
B IG G E
DIAME
E A R TH
R
TE R
m
2,600k
TER = 14
R DIAME
JUPITE
J U PITE R’S D I A M E T E
R IS
11. 2 TIM ES BIG GE R
SU
M E TE R
JUPITER DIAMETER =
142,600km
S AT U R N
M E TO
E LC
P IT E R ’S
TH A N
S AT U R
9.5
SAT U R N ’S D I A M E T
E R IS
Jupiter
TE R IS
E
R
TE
DIAME
A R TH ’S
R
600km
R = 120,
DIAMETE
SATURN
17
9.5 TIM ES BIG GE R
SU
M E TE R
600km
E TO U R A N US
OM
URANU
U R A N US’ D I A M E T E
R IS
U
E S
ME
S’ D I A
S
4 T IM E
TH A N
N
TH
LOM
E T E RS FRO M
AME
N ’S D I
B IG G E
T IM E S
TH A N
IL L IO
2 , 870 M
KI
ON
ES
11.2 T IM ’S
IL L IO N
1, 4 3 0 M
W
4 TIM ES SM AL LER
CERES DIAMETER = 932k J U
m
TO J U PI T E R
7 78 M
O
ELC
Fun Facts
E
N
TH
SU KILOM
TERS F
E T E RS FRO M
ROM THE
2,870 MI LLI ON
LO
W
EM
E
N
TH
SKUI L O
TERS F
M E T E RS FRO M
ROM THE
LCO M E TO U R A N
WE
KI
OF AS
T
EM
SYS
S O L A R S Y S TI N
OUR SOLAR
778 MI LLI ON
LO
WE
KI
IO N SS
M IL L TE
R IO D
OF AST ERIO DS
ER
E
TH A N
m
R = 932k
T H E L A RG ES T
DIAMETE
CERES
A BO U T
TH ER E
N
THE RE ARE
N
EL
SM ALL
MOON
A R TH ’S
N
W
S
4 T IM E
T H E A S T E RO I D
S
R O M E TO
C OI D S
L
ARE
E
E TO T H E A S T
E
CO M
E
URANUS
TE R IS
B IG G E
DIAME
A R TH ’S
R
TE R
00km
R = 47,0
DIAMETE
4 TIM ES BIG GE R
M E TE R
URANUS DIAMETER = 47
,000km
NEPTU
IAME
N E ’S D
TE R IS
GE
E S B IG
R
RY
UR SO
N
5 8 M IL LI O
HE
E TE RS FRO M T
LC
WE
LOM
SU
LOM
S
2.6 TIM ES SM ALLER
S M A LL ER
2 .6 TI M ES
I A M E TE R
H ’S D
T H A N E A RT
980k
AMETER = 4,
MERCURY DI
LCO M E TO V E N US
LO
MET
IAMETER
V E N US ’ D
ERS FRO M T H E
S
UN
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R
MERCURY DIAMETER = 4,980km
m
IS
1.05 TIM ES BIGGER
B IG G ER
1.0 5 TI M ES A M E TE R
H ’S D I
T H A N E A RT
60km
ETER = 12,3
VENUS DIAM
Think
the Ithaca
150 MILLION
winter is long?
WE
O EARTH
OME T
N
15 0 M IL LI O
HE
E TE RS FRO M T
KI
SU
LO
LCOM E TO E A RTH
IAMETER
E A RT H ’S D
MET
ERS FRO M T H E
S
UN
E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R IS
IS
B IG G ER
3 .7 TI M ES
IAMETER
M O O N ’S
THAN THE
D
3.7 TIM ES BIGGER
T H A N T H E M O O N ’S D I A M E T E R
EARTH DIAMETER = 12,742km
42km
ETER = 12,7
EARTH DIAM
Try hitching a ride on Saturn for one of its
thirty-year-long
E T O M A trips around the Sun.
R
E LCO M
S
W
E T E R IS But what
We know, we know: You know about
D I A Mrings.
M A RS ’the
1.9 TIM ES SM ALLER
A LL
228
MILLION
S
about Saturn’s largest moon, Titan?
aER
world, T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R
ES M is
1.9 TI MTitan
O M E TO M A RS
R
TE
E
C
M
A
L
I
’S D
KI
E A RT H
midway
in size between
Mars,
where the
N the Moon
WE
T H A Nand
LO
SU
MARS DIAMETER = 6,760km
MET
T H E with electricity, streaming
E Ris
760kmin from
M
S
6,
upper
air
rippling
O
F
R
=
ER
ET
N
MARS DIAM
2 2 8 M IL LI O
the archetypical ringed planet next door, where the
S Uperpetual brown overcast is tinged with an odd burnt
KI
LOM
HE
TO T H E A S T E R
T
OM E
E TE RS FRO M
OI D
T H E L A RG ES T
E LC and where the
orange,
fallsES Tout of the
S very stuff of life
W
T H E L A RG
THERE ARE
UT
BO
A
IS
E R ES
skies onto the unknown surfaceA Sbelow.
T E RO I D C
4 TIM ES SM ALLER
N
W
N
7 78 M IL LI O
KI
LL ER
M ES S M A
HE
E TE RS FRO M T
LOM
W
ELC
OME
OF ASTERIODS
ILO
MET
ERS FRO M T H E
SU
N
IN
MILLIONS
H E A S T E RO
E TO T
I DS
4 TI more than
N
Saturn
is so far awayM that light takes
IN
H ’S M O O an hour
E
T H A N E A RT
OUR
T
TH ER E AR E
S
Y
S Ofrom
L A R S the Sun. Spacecraft take years. mMuchCERES DIAMETER = 932km
to get there
= 932k
DIAMETER
M IL LI O ONDSS about it is still a mystery—including
CERESwhether
it holds
RI
TE
AS
F
O
M
know
just
enough,
though,
to
recognize
S T Egreat oceans.
T OWe
E
J
M
U
O
P
C
I
OUR SOLAR SY
TER
EL
that Wwithin reach may be a place where certainE Rprocesses
J U PI T E R’S D I A M E T E R IS
IS
S DIAMET
J U PI TE R’
are today
working
them
s
elves
out
that
eons
ago
on
Earth
11.2
TIM ES BIGGER
778 MILLION
B IG G ER
TO J U PI T E R
OME
11.2 TI M ES A M E TE R T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R
led
K to the origin of life.
ELC
DI
OM
SU
T O S AT U R N
KI
WE
LCOM
E T O S AT U
N
Fun FactsJUPITER
MET
LI O N
1,4 3 0 M IL
KI
18 T H E S U
LO
JUPITER
DIAMETER = 142,600km
m
= 142,600k
DIAMETER
RN
SA T U R N ’S
1,430 MILLION
LO
H ’S
T H A N E A RT
ERS FRO M T H E
SU
N
DIAMETER
IS
Saturn
9.5 TIM ES BIGGER
B IG G ER
9. 5 TI M ES
E TE R
H ’S D I A M
T H A N E A RT
0,600km
AMETER = 12
SATURN DI
N
W
C
EL
M E TE RS FRO M
W
E LC
OME
LOM
W
LCOM
E TO U R A N
19
US
MILLION
T O U R A N U2,870
S
KI
LO
UN
ME
E S
LI O N T E R S F R O M T H
2 ,870 M IL
KI
WE
SU
HE
E TO N E P TU
E TE RS FRO M T
LCO M
NE
WE
E LC
OME
U R A N US ’
DIAMETER
IS U R A N US’ D I A M E T E R IS
4 TIM ES BIGGER
IG G ER
4 TI M ES B
HRA N E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R
E TTE
H ’S D I A M
T H A N E A RT
URANUS DIAMETER = 47,000km
,000km
AMETER = 47
URANUS DI
N
KI
ERS FRO M T H E
UN
108 MILLION
KI
HE
E TE RS FRO M T
LC
WE
MET
WE
O VEN US
OME T
N
10 8 M IL LI O
KI
LO
SU
N
LOM
KI
M E RC U RY’S D I A M E T E R IS
IS
N
KI
58 MILLION
M E T O M E R C U RY
TER
’S D I A M E
N
W
O
E LC
M E RC U RY
T O N E P T4,490
UNE
KI
LO
M
N E P T U N E’
MILLION
SU
N
P T U N E’S D I A M E T E R IS
ENREIS
S DIAMET
3.9 TIM ES BIGGER
B IG G ER
3 .9 TI M ES
M E TE R
H ’S D I A
T H A N E A RT
10 8 M
IL L IO N
T
E T E RS FRO M
EL
SU
HE
E TO E A RT H
COM
E T E RS FRO M
W
E
TH
LOM
N
E
OM
N
TH
R IO
O F A S TE
U
E S
E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R IS
OO
TH E M
3.7 TIM ES BIGGER
42km
R = 12,7
DIAMETE
EARTH
T H A N T H E M O O N ’S D I A M E T E R
N
SU
THE
EARTH DIAMETER = 12,742km
M A RS’
DIAME
TE R IS
ES
1.9 T IM
ER
TE R
= 6,760k
1.9 TIM ES SM ALLER
m
ABOU
R E S IS
TH
STER
CE
OM E
R O I DSaturn
There
Jupiter
and
where
A S TE
T H E L A RG ES T
E R the
I DS
E LC are places on O
SM ALL
W
E
T IM SsweatM electrons,
pressuresTHERE
are ARE
so great that 4atoms
and
OON
’S
TH
N EAR
MILLIONS
TH A
the air becomes
a metal. That
does
not seem
to happen4 TIM ES SM ALLER
932km
OF ASTERIODS
METER =
DIAgood
on less-massive
Uranus.
That’s
the
news.
RES
CE
IN
M
OUR
T
SYS
E
SM ALL
DIAME
A R TH ’S
S O L A R SYS T
E
CERES DIAMETER = 932km
However, unlike any other planet of which we know, Uranus
E TE R IS
seems to be lying on its side. One possible
is
Mexplanation
R ’S D I A
M E TO J U PIT
J U P IT E
LCO
E
E
R
IG G EaRrun-in
that this
was
the
result
of
a
really
big
accident,
B
W
S
E
T IM
J U PITE R’S D I A M E T E R IS
TE R
11.2
DIAME
with a very large planet billions
ofNyears
ago.
’S
E A R TH
EM
TO J U PI T E R
778 MILLION
TH A
11.2 TIM ES BIGGER
0km
142,60
TER =
Don’t
bother to bring your
sunglasses.
KI
R DIAMEUranus is so far
N
JUPITE
LO
N
IO
L
SU
M
IL
E
M
E
from
the
Sun
that
noontime
there
is
no
brighter
than
it is DIAMETER = 142,600km
H
T
ERS FRO M T
JUPITER
7 78
U
S
after
sunset
on
Earth.
HE
N
W
GER
E S B IG
H
TO T H E A
D
IN O
UR SOLAR
TE R IS
TER
S DIAME
William
Herschel, the
eighteenth
century musician
KI
N MAR
LO
SU
MET
E
E R S F R O M T Hthe first planet unknown to theMARS DIAMETER = 6,760km
who discovered
ancients, wanted to name itE “George.”
ST
L ARGE
T
ARE
OME
ERS FRO M
ME
’S D I A
TH A N
NS
M IL L IO S
ELC
E A R TH
It could’ve
been worse:
228 MILLION
T H E A S T E RO I D
S
E TO
TH ER E
E TO E A R
T
CO M E TO M A RS
WEL
E T E RS FRO M
C
EL
MET
SU
L IO
2 2 8 M IL
KI
LO
S
THE
150 MILLION
KI
TO M A RS
ME
LCO
60km
R = 12,3
DIAMETE
VENUS
UN
TH A N
N
LOM
ERS FRO M
LCOM
WE
L IO N
15 0 M IL
KI
MET
KI
LOM
T
E T E RS FRO M
W
W
E
ME
LCO
T O S AT U R N
1, 4 3 0 M
KI
LOM
TH
LO
U
E S
MET
W
W
E
M
LCO
E TO U R A N US
IL L IO
2 , 870 M
KI
LOM
W
E
KI
LOM
U
E S
E
TH A N
Fun Facts
SATURN
UN
MET
M E TO N E P TU
N
E LCO
N
TH
E
B IG G E
URANUS
R
TE R U R A N US’ D I A M E T E R IS
URANUS DIAMETER = 47,000km
IAME
N E ’S D
TE R IS
B IG G E
T IM E S
TH A N
E A R TH
O
M E TE R
’S D I A N E P T U N E’S D I A M E T E R IS
NEPTUNE DIAMETER = 44,600km
5 .5
SU
ME
’S D I A
TE R IS
SM ALL
T IM E S
ER
R
M E TE
TO ’S D I A M E T E R IS
D I A PLU
A R TH ’S
E
5.5 TIM
4km ES SM ALLER
R = 2,27
DIAMETE T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
TO
PLU
TH A N
N
21
R
3.9 m
4,600k TIM ES BIGGER
TER = 4
E DIAME
NEPTUN
P LU TO
5,900 MILLION
K I IO N
L
ILL
Uranus
00km 4 TIM ES BIGGER
R = 47,0
DIAMETE
S
MET
THE
E
U RS FRO M
S
E
E TO PLU
TO
E LCOM
TE R IS
DIAME
A R TH ’S
3 .9
W
TO PLU TO
E
M
LCO
0 M
ME
S’ D I A
NEPTU
E
9.5 TIM ES BIGGER
TH A N
SU
600km
R = 120,
DIAMETE
S
4 T IM E
S
ERS FRO M T H E
TE R IS
E A R TH
URANU
4,490 MILLION
KI N
IO
IL L L O
UN
E T E RS FRO M
W
M E TO U R A N
E LCO
U
W
E TO N E P T U N E
4, 49 0 M
S
ERS FRO M T H E
AME
N ’S D I
GER
E S B IG
9.5 T IM ’S D I A M E TE R
N
2,870 MILLION
KI
N
LO
TH
OM
E T E R S F R20
M
LCO
S AT U R
1,430 MILLION
KI
IL L IO N
E T E RS FRO M
M E T O S AT U
R
ELCO
N
W
LO
N
LOM
W
KI
108 MILLION
KI
1.05 TIM ES BIGGER
E A R TH
TH A N
N
EL
E TO V E N US
COM
N
W
US
I
IM E S B
1.0 5 T
M E TE R
’S D I A
RTH
K I OME T
E LLCO M
N
SU
ETER
S FRO M T H E
L IO
15 0 M IL
km
HAN THE MOO
42D
,7’S
IAMETER
R = 12N
DIAMETE
EARTH
42km
N
SU
O M E TO E
L O M W E L C R O M T HM A R S
ETERS F
TE R IS
DIAME
M A RS’
LLER
MEA
M A RS’
AM
E SD I S
T E R IS R
1.9 T IM
I A M E TE
D
’S
1.9A NTIM
TH SM
E A RES
AL LER
TH
0km
T H A N E A RT H ’S D
A76
R = I6,
M E TE R
TE
ME
A
MARS DI
0km
22 8 MI LLI ON
TO M A RS
OME
L O E LC
N
WM E
SU
TERS F
ROM THE
KI
L IO
2 2 8 M IL
N
N
KI
SU
K I OM E TO TH E A S TET H E
O M E T E R S F R O M RO
EL C
ID
W
S
RGEST
TH E L A
ABOUT
E R E S IS
ILDA C
O
R
T
H
E
TE
RG ES T
AS
LLER
A
SM
A S T E RO I D C E REES
S IS
A BO U O
T
4 T IM
MO N
’S
TH
AR
4 TIM
A N ESM
AL LER
THES
m
T H A N E A RT H ’S ME
R = 932k
OO
N
DIA MTE
CERES
THE RE ARE
MI LLI ON SAST
Far
out! How far?
NS
E
E RO I D
O TH
OF AST
DS
S
E TERIO
OM
OEULCR
E
R
M
E A
E
T
ER
S
S O TH
Y
LAR S
W
IN
L IO D S
CERES DIAMETER = 932k
M ILNeptune
is so far away, it takes nearly
165 m
R IO
O F A S TE
M
T
YS
CO M E TO J U
W E L I N O U R S OPLIAT ERR S
LO
E
IS
Earth years to make a trip around the Sun. DIn
M E TE R
R ’S I A
J U P IT E
ER
G
IG
July 2011, Neptune completes itsJ Ufirst
full orbit
ES B
PITE R’S D I ATMIM
R
778 MI LLI ON J U
11.2 E T E R IS
I A M E TE
D
’S
P
I
since
in 1846.
R
11. 2 TIMTHES
E A R TH
M E T O itsT Ediscovery
A N BIG
GE R
CO
ME
EL
N
W
SU
TERS F
When
T H E we
ROM
0km
= 142,60
THAN
E A RT H ’S D I A M
TERR
E TE
DIAME
look down on its cool, austere blueness,
are
Rwe
JUPITE
N
IO
L
IL
JUPI
M
TER
DIAM
ETER
8
and clouds—no solid surface.
= 142,600km
7 7only seeing atmosphere
U
Neptune’sT atmosphere
is mainly hydrogen and helium,
E S
K
H
E
T
M
O
O
R IS
I L O S AT U
LC
M
A M E TE
M Ewith
R Odash
WE
S NFa
T E RR
of methane and traces of other hydrocarbons.
N ’S D I
S AT U R
R
B IG G E
SAT U R N ’S D I A M E T T IM E S
There may also be some nitrogen.
9.5 E R IS
M E TE R
N
KI
ER
TH A N T
N
W
1,4 30 MI LLI ON
E T O S AT U R N
9.5 TIM ES
R TH
AN EA
’S D I A
TH
BIG GE R
M
0km
crystals,
L C O bright clouds, which seem to be methane
LO
EThe
= 120,60
W
M EDI
ME
TEARMETER
UN
S
TERS F
SATURN
thick,
deeper clouds of unknown composition.
T H E above IO
R O Mfloat
N
L
M ILmotion
600km
of the clouds we discover
fierce winds,
, 4 3 0 the
1From
U
S
E
approaching
the
local
speed
of
sound.
TH
M E T OK I
R IS
N
KI
UL O
R AMNE T E R S F R O M
US
LO
OM
E LC
W SUN
ME
TERS F
ROM THE
E TO U R A N US
2 , 870 M
WE
KI
4,490 MI LLI ON
LO
ME
TERS F
ROM THE
CO M E TO PLU
WEL
T
KI
O
O
E LC
UN
SW
LOM
T
E T E RS FRO M
ME
SU
TERS F
ROM THE
W
N
O
E LC
LOM
TE R IS
Neptune
NEPTUNE DIAMETER =
44,600km
SU
HE
PLU TO ’S D I A M E T E R
IS
M E TO PLU TO
M E TE R
N
SU
HE
PLUTO DIAMETER = 2,27
4km
TE R IS
DIAME
’S
LLER
E S S M A TE R
IM
T
E
5 .5
M
A
I
’S D
P LU TO
T
R
N E P T U N E’S D I A M E
R
T E R IS3 .9
I A M E TE
TH ’S D
3.9 TIM ES BIG GE RTH A N E A R
m
0k
4,60
TER = 4
M E TE R PTUNE DIAME
NE
N
E T E RS FRO M
IAME
N E ’S D
B IG G E
T IM E S
IL L IO
5,9 0 0 M
KI
,000km
NEPTU
O NEPTUNE
ME T
22
5,9 00 MI LLI
ON
LO
Fun Facts
SU
HE
IL L IO
4, 49 0 M
KI
TE
R = 47
DIAMETE
M E TE
URANRUS
IL L IO N
KI
T
L C O M E T O N E P T UL O M E T E R S F R O M
NE
ME
S’ D I A
R
B IG G E
U R A N US’ D I A M E T E 4 T IM E S
R
R IS
I A M E TE
D
’S
E A R TH
4 TIM ES BIG GE
TH A
RN
,000km
N
2,870 MI LLI ON
URANU
N
KI
LCO
N
WE
TH A N
E A R TH
4km
R = 2,27
DIAMETE
PLUTO
23
ON L IO N
22 8 MI LLI
2 2 8 M IL N
LO
0km
U
U
E S
E S
M ETK
E RI LSOF R O M T H O M T H
M E T E RS FR
E LC
OM
RGEST
TH E L A
ABOUT
E R E S IS
C
D
I
O
A S TE R
LLER
T H E L A RG ES T E S S M A
T IM
4
U T ’S M O O N
BO
A
IS
ES
R
E
C
D
I
A S T E RO
E A R TH
TH A N
4 TIM ES SM AL LER
= 932km
AMETER
ON
M ODI
’SRES
T H A N E A RT HCE
E TO TH E A S TTEORO
THI DE A S TE RO I D
S
E
S
OM
C
ARE
L
RE
THE E
ARE
E
ER
TH
MI LLI ON SIL L IO N S
DS
S
OF AST ERIOM
TE R IO D
W
W
0km
R = 6,76
TE R
M ETE
DII AME
AR’SS D
T H A N E A RTMH
LCO
METE
ME
R ’S D I A
TE R IS
GE
E S B IG
R
R
11.2 TRIM
IS
A M E TE
J U PITE R’S D I A M E T E E A R TH ’S D I
TH A N
11. 2 TIM ES BIG GEARMETER = 142,600km
R EDI
TE R
AM
D ITE
JUPI
T H A N E A RT H ’S
M E T O J U P I T E RE T O J U P I T E R
OM
ELC
W
Much ado about Pluto
L IO N
778 MI LLI ON
7 78 M IL
N
LO
J U P IT E
142,600km
DIAMETER =of
TERworld
JUPIa
No longer a planet, but still
mystery.
N
WE
KI
m
CERES DIAMETER = 932k
S
OF A M
EM
E
ST
O U R S OIL A R S Y S T
N OUR SOL AR SY
IN
SU
SU
K
HE
HE
R S F RI LOOMM TE T E R S F R O M T
I A M E TE
R IS
N ’S D
Even though it is smaller than its eight siblings
S A T U Rand
IG G E R
IM E S B M E TE R
T
doesn’t orbit the Sun in the same plane ofD the
Solar
.5
9
IS
DIA
ER
SAT U R N ’S I A M E T N E A R TH ’S
S AT U R N
M E T O S AT U R NSystem
TH A
M E TO
as
they
do,
Pluto
was
considered
a
planet
from
its
LCO
O
E
R
C
0km
GE
W
EL
120,60
9.5 TIM ES BIG
W
METER =
discovery in 1930 until 2006.
RA
M ENTEDI
I ATUR
N E A RT H ’S DSA
LO
SU
E S
K
T Hlarger,
H Ethem even
L OTM
R S F R OIM
E T E RS FRO M
it became more difficult to justify Pluto’sM E TE R IS
IA
N US’ D
R Ascience:
planetary status. This is one of the great powersUof
R
B IG G E
S
T IM E
4
E TE R
as new evidence comes in, scientists systematically
M
A
I
D
IS
R
U R A N US’ D I A M E T E A N E A R TH ’S
TO U R A N US
M E TO U R A N U
TH
SO M E
evaluate
it. If it proves to be solid, then, we have
to admit
LCO
km
ES BIG GE R
WE
E LC
= 47,000
TIM
4
AMETER
W that we were wrong and change our view.
NUS
R DI
M EATE
A N E A RT H ’S D I A UR
IL L IO N
2,870 MI LLI ON
2 , 870 M
METE
WE
KI
LCO
METE
WE
KI
LCO M
E TO PLU TO
W
E LC
OME
METE
N
Fun Facts
TE R IS
GE
E S B IG
R
44,600km
NEPTUNE DIAMETER =
ME
’S D I A
TE R IS
LLER
ES SM A
5 .5 T IM ’S D I A M E TE R
P LU TO
IS
E A R TH
PLU TO ’S D I A M E T E R
TH A N
TO PLU TO
m
= 2,274k
AMETER
UTO DI
M E TE RPL
IL L IO N
U
N
E S
K IS U
TH
E
L
M
H
O
M E T E RS FRO
RS FRO M T
24
IAME
N E ’S D
3 .9 T IM ’S D I A M E TE R
T E R IS
E A R TH
N E P T U N E’S D I A M E
TH A N
0km
3.9 TIM ES BIG GE R E DIAMETER = 44,60
PT
RUN
TE
M ENE
U
N
E S
KHI E S U
TH
L
RS FRO M T O M E T E RS FRO M
5,9 00 MI LLI ON 5,9 0 0 M
LO
NEPTU
EP
M E TO N E P T U N OM E TO N T U N E
E
E LC
W
IL L IO
4,490 MI LLI ON
4, 49 0 M
LO
,000km
U
UN
E S
KI HE S
TH
R S F R O M TL O M E T E R S F R O M
N
LO
TH
N
KI
METE
N
KI
THA
N
M IL L IO
1,4 30 MI LLI1ON
0 scientists
, 4 3As
600km of
discovered
other
Pluto-like
worlds,
some
ETER = 120,
N
U
SATURN DIAM
N
KI
1.9 TIM ES SM A
E LC
N
W
4km
PLUTO DIAMETER = 2,27
Pluto
25
Our Sun is the
closest star to Earth
The next closest star to Earth is Alpha Centauri.
On this 1 to 5-billion scale model of the Solar System,
if the Sun is on the Ithaca Commons and Pluto is 1,200
meters away at the Sciencenter, where do you think the
nearest star, Alpha Centauri, should be located?
Boston? No. Guess again.
Los Angeles? No. Not far enough away.
The staggering answer is that even on this radically
reduced scale, the next closest star station would be
somewhere in the state of Hawaii!
Sagan Planet Walk
model of our Solar System
ITHACA, NY
Alpha Centauri
station would be in
HAWAII
Fun Facts
O U R SU N IS
TA U R I
A L PH A C E N
IS
T YE A RS
3 LI G H
A L PH A C E N TAU4.
R I IS
A RT H
AY FR OM E
AW
4. 3 LIG
HT YE AR S
on km
00,000 milli
AW AY FRO M E A
YEARS = 40,0
TH
4.3 LIGHRT
4.3 LIGHT YEARS
= 40,000,000 millio
n km
26
IN U TE S
8. 3 LI G H T M
H
E A RT
AW AY FR OM
million km
NUTES = 150
8.3 LIGHT MI
O U R SU N IS
8.3 LIG HT MI NU
TE S
AW AY FRO M E A
RT H
8.3 LIGHT MINUTE
S = 150 million km
27
e
un
pt
Ne
us
an
Ur
rn
tu
Sa
te
pi
Ju
s
ar
M
rth
Ea
Ve
n
us
r
ry
cu
er
M
NASA/International Astronomical Union
28
to
Pl u
DWARF PL ANETS
Ce
A s r es
te
ro
id
PL ANETS
This illustration accurately shows the relative sizes of
the planets in our Solar System. However, the distance
between the Sun and each of the planets is not to scale.
29
Acknowledgments
Station Sponsors
This exhibition was developed by the Sciencenter in
memory of Carl Sagan for the citizens of the Earth.
Mercury��Clarity Connect, Inc.
Sun��Ann Druyan
Venus��The CBORD Group, Inc.
Special Thanks to:
Ann Druyan and the Estate of Carl Sagan
Charles Trautmann, Concept and Project Director
Erin Caruth, Artist/Designer
Emily Maletz Graphic Design, Passport Design
Robert Orrange, Project Manager
Yervant Terzian, Cornell University, Technical Advisor
Jim Bell, Cornell University, Technical Advisor
Jim Holahan, Metalsmith
New York State
City of Ithaca
Fabrication
Planet models: William Bassett, Skip Davis, Advanced
Design and Fabrication Facility, Cornell University
Planet stations: Superior Precast, Cortland Granite
Sun and Pluto stations: Marchell Monuments
Asteroids Station: AccuFab, Inc.
Planet station installation: City of Ithaca Department
of Public Works, Eric Poysa, and Andy Hillman, with
assistance from many others
Signage printing: Enameltec and Fossil Industries
30
Earth��Goodrich Corporation – Ithaco Space
Systems, Inc. and its Employees
Mars ��Cornell University Astronomy Department
and NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium
Asteroids��NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium;
Tompkins County Tourism Board; AccuFab,
Inc.; Meteorite donated by Michael I. Casper,
Meteorites Inc.
Jupiter��Friends and Family of Bob Engel
Saturn��The Planetary Society
Uranus��Tompkins County Tourism Board and
The Gannett Foundation, Inc.
Neptune��M&T Bank and the Children of Tompkins
County
Pluto��William and Jane Bassett
Images
Planet and Solar System images courtesy of NASA
Audio Tour
Narration: Bill Nye
Post Production: Hester Blom and Dawid Vermaak
Sponsored by the Tompkins County Tourism Board
31
Dedication
© Tony Korody/Sygma/Corbis
This model of the Solar System is named in honor of the late
Carl Sagan—a great scientist, an inspirational advocate of
science, a valued advisor and supporter of the Sciencenter,
and a member of the Ithaca community for nearly thirty
years. The Sagan Planet Walk aspires to excite future
generations about the romance of the scientific enterprise
and to convey something of the preciousness and fragility of
our tiny world in the context of the vastness of the Cosmos.
The Sciencenter dedicates this exhibition to the memory of
Carl Sagan
1934-1996
Astronomer • Teacher • Author • Activist
Space Science and Exobiology Pioneer
As a child of seven, Carl Sagan asked the question: “What
are the stars?” To his good fortune and ours, his parents took
him straight to the nearest library. That was the first step in
a lifelong journey that opened the way for him and countless
others to a deeper understanding of the universe.
32
Carl Sagan was Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences
and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at
Cornell University. He played a leading role in the American
space program since its inception. He briefed the Apollo
astronauts before their flights to the Moon and was an
experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo
expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries
of the high temperature of Venus (caused by a massive
greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (caused by
windblown dust), and the reddish haze of Titan (caused by
complex organic molecules).
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Sagan was the author of many
best-selling books including Cosmos and Contact. More than
500 million people in 60 countries have seen the Emmy and
Peabody award-winning thirteen-part PBS television series
Cosmos. He received numerous awards for his scientific
achievements, such as the Public Welfare Medal, the highest
award of the National Academy of Sciences. In a posthumous
award to Dr. Sagan, the National Science Foundation
declared that “his research transformed planetary science …
his gifts to mankind were infinite.”
601 First Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607.272.0600
www.sciencenter.org
Passport sponsored by NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium
PRINTED ON
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