Real World: Scaling the Solar System
Paul Chodas, Manager for NASA's Near Earth Object Program, explains Astronomical Units (AUs) and how this unit of measure helps simplify an understanding of distances within the solar system. To further simplify thinking about these vast distances, distances within the solar system are explained scaled to the size of a football field.
Discussions and writing prompts
1. The actual distances between objects in our solar system are far too large to experience directly. Why are scale models and units like Astronomical Units (AUs) useful tools for scientists and engineers? Explain how using a scale model changes your understanding of the solar system. Include examples from the video to support your explanation.
2. The planets are separated by enormous distances. How do these distances affect the way NASA plans robotic and human space missions?
3. Many textbook illustrations show the planets much closer together than they really are. How can inaccurate representations of scale lead to misconceptions about our solar system?
4. Imagine you are creating an educational exhibit to help younger students understand the true scale of the solar system. Describe the model you would build, how you would represent the planets and their distances, and what you would want visitors to learn from the experience. Explain why representing both size and distance accurately is challenging.
Background Information
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA eClips Our World: What Is a Solar System? (video)
- NASA Space Place Gallery of Solar System Images (webpage)
- NASA Space Place Solar System (webpage)
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA Our Solar System Lithograph Set (webpage)
Grades 4 through 8
- NASA Solar System Exploration - Kids (webpage)
Grades 4 through 12
- NASA eClips Real World: Limits of the Solar System (video)
Grades 5 through 12
- NASA Solar System Exploration (webpage)
- NASA Solar System Ambassadors (webpage)
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA New Horizons (webpage)
- NASA Voyager (webpage)
- NASA JPL Cassini (webpage)
Activities
Grades 3 through 5
- NASA GSFC The Scale of Things (pdf)
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA Space Place Solar System (webpage)
- NASA SpacePlace Power Up with Solar System Activities Book (e-book)
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA Solar System and Beyond Trading Cards (webpage)
- NASA GSFC Play-doh Scale Models (pdf)
Grades 4 through 8
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Solar System in My Neighborhood (webpage)
Grades 4 through 12
- NASA Eyes on the Solar System (interactive)
Grades 5 through 12
- NASA Solar System TREKS (interactive)
Grades 6 through 8
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA A Scale Model of the Solar System (pdf)
- NASA JPL Modeling the Structure of the Solar System (webpage)
- NASA Exploring the Solar System: Pocket Solar System (webpage)
- NASA Solar System Scroll (webpage)
Mathematics
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA Make A Scale Solar System (webpage)