Space is enormous! So enormous that it’s almost impossible to show the Solar System accurately in a simple picture. If planets are drawn to scale to scale, the distances between them become so large they won’t fit on the page. But if you shrink the distances so everything fits, the planets become tiny dots you can barely see.
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One of the best ways to begin understanding the size of our Solar System is to build a scale model. By shrinking everything down proportionally, you can explore how far apart the planets really are and just how much empty space lies between them.
Scale Model of Solar System
Interactive Solar System Map
Use the tool below to create your own scale model of the Solar System.​
Choose a size for the Sun in STEP 1, and the tool will automatically calculate the sizes and distances of the planets in your model.
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In the next steps, you'll place the Solar System on a real map, centered on your school, your neighbourhood, or anywhere you like. The orbits of the different objects will be displayed according to the colour code​
Step 1:
Next, enter the latitude and longitude you want to use in STEP 2 below, or drag the map to where you want.
Then click "draw orbits" to display them on the map, under STEP 3.
Step 2:
Step 3:
Note that the orbits of the planets in the solar system are not perfect circles, but ellipses. The model here simplifies this aspect and displays a circle based on the average distance between the planet and the Sun.
We thank the Exploratorium for the inspiration through their webpage "Build a Solar System”.
Adapted by Dr. Jennifer West from the Dunlap Institute at the University of Toronto.