Jupiter, located at the U of L Science Commons. (Lethbridge Astronomy Society)

By David Opinko

To-scale solar system model unveiled, extending from downtown to Park Lake

Sep 7, 2021 | 1:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – If you have ever wondered just how far away each planet in the solar system is, a new model will help you to figure out its scope.

The Lethbridge Astronomy Society (LAS) has nearly completed its latest project.

“In just a few weeks, Lethbridge and the surrounding area will have a scale model of the solar system,” says Tom Anderson, President of the LAS. “The model will extend from downtown Lethbridge all the way to Park Lake Provincial Park. This is to be one of the world’s largest solar system models.”

For this model, they are using the downtown post office clock tower’s dome as the sun and have scaled both the sizes of each planet and their distances from the sun accordingly.

The sun has a diameter of 5.5 metres. That makes Earth the size of a tennis ball and is located close to the downtown fire station

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Anderson believes the model will draw tourists to the area, provide STEM education, and potentially be a springboard for businesses that want to draw on the interstellar idea.

“From the curious to the hard-core science nerd, this project has a lot to offer!”

The locations are listed below:

• Sun (Naato’si)
  • The Post, 704, 4 Ave. S.
• Mercury
  • Lethbridge Public Library, Main Branch, 810, 5 Ave. S.
• Venus
  • Old Courthouse, 1010, 4 Ave. S.
• Earth (Ksaahkomm) & Moon (Ko’Komiki’somm)
  • Downtown Fire Station, corner of 3 St. & 4 Ave. S.
• Mars
  • Galt Museum & Archives, 502, 1 St. S.
• Jupiter
  • U of L, Science Commons Building Patio, 4401 University Dr. W.
• Saturn
  • Chinook High School, 259 Britannia Blvd. W. (to be installed September 2021)
• Uranus
  • Broxburn Vegetables and Café, 5 90008 Range Rd. 210, off Hwy 3, toward Coaldale
• Neptune
  • Park Lake Provincial Park, Range Rd. 223, north of Lethbridge

More details can be found at the Lethbridge Astronomy Society website here.

(Lethbridge Astronomy Society)