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.
Background Information
Grades 6 through 8
- NASA Solar System Exploration
- NASA Voyager
- NASA JPL Cassini
- NASA Space Place Gallery of Solar System Images
- NASA Space Place Where Does Interstellar Space Begin?
- NASA Space Place Where Does the Solar System End?
Activities
Grades 6 through 8
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Solar System in My Neighborhood
- NASA Scale Models of the Solar System
- NASA Solar System Exploration - Kids
- NASA Solar System Scale
- NASA Solar System Scale and Size
- NASA Solar System Trading Cards
- NASA GSFC Play-doh Scale Models
- NASA GSFC The Scale of Things
- NASA JPL Eyes on the Solar System
- NASA JPL Modeling the Structure of the Solar System
- NASA NightSky Network Pocket Solar System
- NASA Space Place Explore the Solar System
Grades K through 12
- NASA JPL Solar System Scroll
Mathematics
Grades 6 through 8
- NASA Space Math Year of the Solar System: Math Guide