Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Maine Completes Largest To-Scale Solar System Model

Posted by timothy on from the can't-get-theayah-from-heayah dept.

Neophytus writes "The University of Maine has now almost completed its solar system model, to be unveiled officially on the June 14th at Westfield. The final planet, Uranus, will be set in place on the 13th. At forty miles from Pluto to The Sun and built to a scale of 1:93,000,000, it will be the largest three-dimensional scale model of the Solar System in North America."

28 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Uh, I think God has them beat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're in the largest to scale model of the solar system.

    1. Re:Uh, I think God has them beat by stephens_domain · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not so much a model as a production deployment. Then again, if this is a beta... that would explain a lot....

      --

      ..
  2. I hear.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hear some of the hottest models are located there, too.

  3. And NASA Announced... by Quaoar · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...that it will be using this new scale model to test launch paths for future probes to other planets. A NASA engineering demonstrated by spreading out his arms and making airplane noises while running towards Mars.

    --
    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
    1. Re:And NASA Announced... by bad_fx · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...later, when he re-awoke after running face first into Mars, he grogily told reporters that "This new fangled metric system got me confused."

  4. Sun model by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    When they're done, they'll be mighty proud of themselves, so they'll light up a big BBQ at the center of the model, where the sun should be, and they'll grill models of invading alien motherships in the form of hamburger patties.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  5. Seems odd by Enraged_jawa · · Score: 5, Funny

    "That Earth is located at Percy's Auto Sales (1.0 mile from Sun)..."

    (Percy's must have pretty damn good air-conditioning)..

    1. Re:Seems odd by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      That Earth is located at Percy's Auto Sales

      I went to the Saturn and Mercury Dealership in Maine, but they had no planets for sale, filthy liars!

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    2. Re:Seems odd by jafuser · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's a town in Florida called 'Jupiter'. I'm not sure if they have any Saturn or Mercury dealers there =)

      --
      Please consider making an automatic monthly recurring donation to the EFF
  6. Re:Why? by tomstdenis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pursuit of science [somehow].

    I remember back in my day we were simply told the solar system is huge. We didn't need a realistic to scale model to figure that out.

    Maybe kids today have no imagination...

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  7. Re:The world's largest model... by No.+24601 · · Score: 3, Funny

    You really gotta hand it to those Swedes for going all the way from design to reality.

  8. I think we .. by hygelic · · Score: 3, Funny

    can beat this if we all get together.

    I'm in Michigan -- I'll hang a basketball ("Jupiter") outside of my house.

    Now, we need someone in New York state to be "Saturn", and someone in Minnesota to be "Mars".

    Who's with me?

  9. I don't remember this... by writermike · · Score: 3, Funny

    Uranus, will be set in place on the 13th

    I don't recall agreeing to participate.

    --
    If Nalgene water bottles are outlawed, only outlaws will have Nalgene water bottles.
  10. Sun sues University of Maine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sun Microsystems announced today that they are sueing the University of Maine for illegal use of their trademark "Sun." Mike Johannsen, a member of Sun's legal counsel, stated that "the University's use of our trademark is confusing to the marketplace" and that they "should take immediate action to rename the Sun model." Alternate names suggested include "Sol," "Yellow Star at the Middle," and "The Celestial Body Formerly Known as The Sun."

  11. Until they... by efuseekay · · Score: 4, Funny

    make a moving model, it's yet another grand exercise in scale conversations, road trips and beer :).

    --
    Mode (3) smart-aleck mode. Press * to return to main menu.
  12. Great... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    One more thing to add to my scale model of the state of Maine.

  13. Placing Neptune in a dangerous area! by reality-bytes · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, if you look at the picture mentioned with the guys in the back of the pickup, it is to be hoped that neptune is not being situated too far from the ecliptic.

    After all, have you noticed the dirty-great big power lines just above them??

    Also, if this is to scale, exactly how big are real solar power-lines?

    Its late, I'm drunk, I should put my sense of humor to sleep......

    --
    Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
  14. this is not a perfect model by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 3, Funny

    the curvature of the surface of earth is greater than that of space.

    --



    I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  15. Re:Why? by Enraged_jawa · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Why? Sure, I could make a 40 mile scale model of the solar system, but I have to ask, why?:

    Beat's pickin' potatoes and you have to pay for the Coffee Brandy up here. Takes your mind off the mosquitos?

  16. Re:*yawn* by Pooua · · Score: 3, Funny
    Obviously, Maine has a lot of issues, and feels inferior to Texas.

    If someone ever wants to build a 40-mile radius solar system that has room to orbit the planets, many Texans could loan out their back yards.

    --
    Taking stuff apart since 1969 (TM)
  17. take that earth by sstory · · Score: 4, Funny

    it would be really funny to paint your car up like a big rock and drive it at 7 mph (651,000,000 mph in scale) to simulate an asteroid collision at near light speed.

    1. Re:take that earth by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      it would be really funny to paint your car up like a big rock and drive it at 7 mph (651,000,000 mph in scale) to simulate an asteroid collision at near light speed.

      There are enough such simulations already, minus the rock exterior.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  18. This just in... by SVDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    A small black monolith has been spotted in the vicinity of the Jupiter model.

    Researchers at the University of Maine had no comment.

  19. Re:Fun and useful additions they could make by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Add Ceres and some asteroids, to communicate just how empty an asteroid belt really is

    They didn't have the budget for asteroids, so they just throw gravel at passing cars instead.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  20. Re:What a fucking waste of time! by BTWR · · Score: 2, Funny

    Couldn't these people do something more productive with their time?

    You mean, they're idiots for building a scientific and educational piece of art, and you're NOT wasting your time by surfing the web on Saturday evening? :)

  21. And if you jog from the sun to the earth.. by starman97 · · Score: 3, Funny

    And it takes you 15 minutes, then you are walking
    at a scale speed of .5C
    If you run it in 8 minutes, then you would be exceeding the (scale) speed of light.

    Driving from the sun the Pluto in 1 hour would
    be an scale speed of 5C (Warp Factor 1.6?)

    --
    Starman97@Gmail.com (bring it on spammers)
  22. *SIGH* by $0+31337 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Living in Maine and actually working for the University of Maine system, I can guarantee that at least one of the planets will be knocked down via 12 gauge by the end of the week.

  23. Simulations by Herkum01 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now I can take my dog and pretend it is "Space Gamora" coming to destroy the earth since everything is in scale now...