Space Hall · EXH-0011

How far apart are the planets really?

A poster can fit every planet, but the real gaps are far larger than the worlds.

What should you look for?

What did you notice about the gaps?

Average orbital distances spread dramatically toward the outer Solar System, so a single linear screen scale is hard to use.

Compression and segmented scales help comparison, but their warnings keep us from mistaking the display for a snapshot.

Distances are average orbital distances; light time is rounded and changes as planets move.

Choose a display model, then visit each average orbital distance. Planet positions are not a snapshot.

Science source