To scale animation of solar system

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges of creating a truly to-scale animation of the solar system. Participants highlight that the vast distances between celestial bodies render such animations impractical for computer displays, as they would require representations smaller than a pixel. A notable real-world example is mentioned: a scale model of the solar system located along the highway from Sydney to Coonabarabran, Australia, where Jupiter is several meters in diameter, illustrating the immense distances involved. Additionally, the Anglo Australian Telescope is referenced for its significant contributions to cosmology through the 2DF Galaxy Redshift Survey.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of astronomical scales and distances
  • Familiarity with computer graphics and animation techniques
  • Knowledge of the solar system's structure, including the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud
  • Basic awareness of cosmological surveys and their significance
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the creation of scale models in astronomy
  • Explore computer graphics techniques for simulating vast distances
  • Learn about the 2DF Galaxy Redshift Survey and its findings
  • Investigate existing solar system simulations and their limitations
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, educators, graphic designers in scientific visualization, and anyone interested in understanding the scale of the solar system and its representation in media.

nuby
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Is there a good site somewhere on the net with a to scale animation/simulation of the solar system? I haven't seen anything yet. Thanks in advance.
 
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If you are looking for a truly to scale animation of our solar system, I suggest you quit. The distances between planets/the sun is simply too great, everything would have to be shown far smaller than a pixel to fit on a computer monitor. Not to mention if the kuiper belt and oort cloud are to be included.
 
If you are ever in Australia, drive from Sydney to Connabararbran (it's about a 5-6 hour drive I think). Along the highway is a scale model of the Solar System. Jupiter is several metres in diameter, so at this scale most of the planets are many kilometers from each other along the side of the road.

Okay so it's not a website, but it really gives you a seen of the emptiness of the Solar System! Plus once you get to Coona you can check out the Anglo Australian Telescope, the first telescope to do a really serious galaxy reshift survey (the 2DFGRS) that told us so much about what we know about cosmology today.
 

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