The Solar System

The first part of the Astropark that most people see represents our own Solar System. The Sun and the nine main planets are laid out here, so that you can compare their distances and sizes. The Solar System includes:

• The Sun - the closest star to Earth, represented by a giant archway at the same scale as the planets beyond.
• Planets - there are nine major planets including the Earth. They are represented by a line of steel globes proportional in size to the actual sizes of the planets. They move in orbits around the Sun, also marked out in the Astropark.
• Moons - in orbit around nearly seven of the planets, but not represented in the Astropark.
• Comets - ghostly and occasional visitors to the inner Solar System.
• Asteroids - represented by red gravel stones visible against the lighter white gravel between Mars and Jupiter.

Last Revised: 2010 January 29th