Part 1: Our Solar System
Scale in Part 1: 1/1,000,000,000 (one billionth)
Our journey through space begins at the center of our solar system: the Sun. This is located behind Spokes Cafe on South Huntington. Surrounding the Sun are twelve images illustrating how the Sun has been represented in different regions and cultures throughout history.
In Part 1, the relative sizes will be:
Solar System diameter = 9 miles
Milky Way diameter = 590 million miles
Known Universe diameter = 93 light years
| Actual Distance from Sun (miles) | Distance from Sun on Trail | |
| Mercury | 36 million | 187 feet |
| Venus | 67 million | 354 feet |
| Earth | 93 million | 489 feet |
| Mars | 142 million | 748 feet |
| Asteroid Belt | 205 – 298 million | 1,075 – 1,564 feet |
| Jupiter | 487 million | 2,558 feet |
| Saturn | 929 milion | 4,877 feet |
| Uranus | 1.8 billion | 1.8 miles* |
| Neptune | 2.8 billion | 2.8 miles* |
| Pluto/Kuiper Belt | 4.6 billion | 4.6 miles* |
* For practical considerations, Uranus, Neptune, and the Kuiper Belt/Pluto have been moved close to Saturn for this exhibit. Pluto’s actual position would be past the 18/71 interchange on this scale.
You will follow the trail east to pass the remaining planets and asteroids in our solar system.
Learn more about our solar system ➔
Learn more about Earth's origins ➔
