“Neptune, lonely sentinel of our solar system!” Ever pondered what it might be like to grasp the vastness of space? Well, here at the Solar System Model: Neptune, you’re about to get a scaled-down, yet mind-expanding experience.
This isn’t just any model. It’s a carefully crafted representation designed in 1999 to usher in the new millennium. The Solar System Model: Neptune forms part of a larger installation. It offers a fascinating perspective on our place in the cosmos.
The scale used here is 1:4,595,700,000. Every millimeter represents 4,595.7 kilometers. This gives you an idea of the true distances involved. The positions of all the planets reflect their locations at midnight on January 1, 2000.
Each planet, including our Solar System Model: Neptune, is a scaled engraving. It sits atop a sun-sized stainless steel disc. This disc is mounted on a three-foot-tall white concrete column. The inner planets up to Jupiter are on the village recreation ground. You will find the outer planets, like our Solar System Model: Neptune, dotted around the village.
The sun itself is a polished steel dome. An engraved ring indicates the directions to all the other planets. Mars is unique. It’s not on a pillar. It resides in the middle of a football pitch. Pluto is also included, reflecting its planetary status back in 2000.
All the planet pillars stand in publicly accessible spots. Walking to see all the planets and returning to the sun takes about two hours. In that time, you’ll have traveled, to scale, around 25 billion miles.
While Sweden might boast a technically larger model, this Solar System Model: Neptune has a unique feature. A tiny 38-millimeter model represents Proxima Centauri, our nearest star. You’ll find it at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, 5,390 miles away. A 600-millimeter globe representing Sirius, the brightest star in our hemisphere, resides at Sydney Observatory, 10,550 miles away. A 50-millimeter sphere representing Barnard’s Star is in the Falklands Islands Museum, 7,825 miles away.
So, as you stand before the Solar System Model: Neptune, remember the incredible distances and the meticulous detail that brings this cosmic neighborhood to life. Consider the vastness, the loneliness of Neptune itself, and the ingenuity of humankind in capturing it all in miniature. It’s a journey across billions of miles, right here in London.