NASA Image/Solar System.
VENTNOR – If you are interested in astronomy and the planets, you can experience a scaled down version of the Solar System while walking along the Ventnor City Boardwalk this summer.
“The Solar System Planetary Walk,” an educational, half-mile track that depicts a fairly accurate representation of the planets in relation to size and distance from the sun and other planets, will be on the boardwalk starting July 3.
The walk starts at the “Sun”, on the boardwalk behind the Ventnor Community Center between New Haven and Newport avenues, and heads towards Atlantic City, ending at Oxford Avenue. Boardwalk strollers can walk the 3.6 billion miles it takes to get to Pluto in just a half-mile at this scaled-down representation.
Along the way, signs with fun facts representing each planet, including Pluto, are placed at the appropriate scaled distance from the sun.
Jasiecki/Planetary posters mark the positions of the planets in relation to the sun.
At a scale of 1 inch equaling 100,000 miles, the sun will only be 8.5 inches in diameter, while Earth is the size of a peppercorn or about 3/16ths of an inch. The 93 million miles from the sun is reduced to just 78 feet.
The scale as laid out along the boardwalk to give strollers an idea of how immense space really is and how far apart the planets really are from the sun and to each other.
Earth in relation to the size of the sun.
The project is a collaboration of Sustainable Downbeach member Steve Jasiecki and NASA Solar System Ambassador Michelle Stella Riordan.
Jasiecki thought the boardwalk, with its clear line of sight, would be a great spot for the project where people can envision the Solar System while taking a leisurely stroll. He reached out to his friend Michelle, a local photographer, who along with being a NASA Solar System Ambassador is a S.T.E.M. facilitator with the Egg Harbor Township Police Activities League. Michelle liked the idea and saw how well it ties in with her S.T.E.M. projects.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around the scope of the solar system”, Riordan said. “Textbook versions are mere representations of the planets and can be misleading. The Solar System walk allows people, especially kids, to better visualize just how far the planets are in relation to size and distance from one another. This will help people have a better understanding of just how big the solar system is.”
The planets are laid out to scale along the Ventnor Boardwalk. Notice the distance between planets increase as they get farther from the sun.
A kickoff informational tour walk will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday July 3 where Riordan and Jasiecki will be your guide to the Solar System.
Self-guided tours are available through summer. Brochures about the display can be picked up at the Ventnor Community Building at the rear of the Atlantic County Library, or download a brochure here: Solar System Brochure v3
For further information, contact Michelle Riordan at michelle.stella.394@gmail.com.
