There's a really cool display in a park where I live that has signs on the walk trail showing the planets in their scaled relation to each other. This takes that basic idea and puts their locations in relation to how long light would take to get from one to the other.
So in this hike, you're walking at the speed of light.
First example, Earth to Moon. Little under two seconds to walk between the two models so maybe 3 or so feet apart.
Second, Earth to Venus, 2.5 minutes,
Third, Earth to Mars, 4.5 minute walk.
Fourth, Earth to Mercury 5 minute walk.
Fifth, Earth to the Sun, 8.5 minute walk.
You could do the outer planets too, but now you're getting into, for instance, a half hour for Jupiter, little over an hour for Saturn, and then it's about two and an a half hours to travel to... uh... THAT planet.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 21 2024 https://oliverjeffe.../our-place-in-space depictions of celestial objects and distances by Belfast Illustrator Oliver Jeffers (we share an accent, and a few other attributes) [xenzag, Dec 22 2024] Here's that solar system walk. https://www.paloalt.../Solar-System-Model [doctorremulac3, Dec 22 2024] Pluto is a planet!-- Voice, Dec 21 2024 Damn straight! Now they're calling it a "dwarf planet" and I for one am appalled. Oh, to be part of the elite planet club we're going to say you need to be rich in mass and size, got it. So a planet that was born in different circumstances beyond its control can't be part of the club. Riiiight.
We need to officially welcome Pluto back to the Solar System club without the demeaning "dwarf" moniker.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 21 2024 [Doc] I think your scaling is off. I am not sure about the distance to other planets, but standing with your feet on the earth, you should be able to reach out and touch Uranus.-- pocmloc, Dec 21 2024 LOL!!!!
I can't match that. Bravo.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 21 2024 Cool. You could marathon to the next solar system and Terry Fox run your way to the centre of the galaxy.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 22 2024 Getting some interesting ideas here.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 22 2024 I feel like that was two separate sentences getting sandwiched between the word 'my'.
Correct me if I am wrong.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 22 2024 You are correct. Hasty typing and evil Spell check strikes again.
For instance it capitalized that S on spell, not me. My spell check has become sentient and it’s an idiot.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 22 2024 Wonder if they could just put a sign up at the solar system walk in that park in my home town and say "Walk it doing that heel to toe thing like you're pacing off a distance and that would be equivalent to the speed of light."
I think it would be about 1/4 the speed of a normal pace. Maybe next time I go for a run I'll try that.-- doctorremulac3, Dec 22 2024 random, halfbakery