I actually drove by this object, which is on the grounds of the Baxter County Library, wondering what it was. I was surprised, a.) that it was the representation of the sun, and b.) it was the start of a multi geocache. Not really focusing on the scale of the project, I visited all 14 stages, the last being the end of the solar system in the town of Yellville 17.5 miles away from the start back in Mountain Home. It was nicely done with only the Sun not being attached to the wooden platform. I found no website on the orrery - I have taken this information from the geocache GC3RVJ6 - Solar Trekking - (
visit link) I HIGHLY recommend completing this if you are in the Mountain Home area. Note, none of the orrery stages are on school grounds - the first 4 are on Baxter County Library grounds. Other stages are on business property - I would visit during daylight hours.
"To give you an idea of the scope and scale of both our solar system and this series of stages, for every 1 meter you travel terrestrially you would be traversing a distance of 1,000,000 kilometers through space.
The Idea:
This cache follows on the heals of a community project idea. This project idea came from an area science teacher who wanted to spread a little knowledge and hands on experience to the community as well as her students. Thus the Community Orrery Project was born.
"The Community Orrery Project"
"What Is It?"
"The Community Orrery is a 3-D scale model of our solar system spanning Baxter and Marion Counties. The Orrery shows the relative positions of heavenly bodies in our solar system, including 8 planets, 4 dwarf planets, the Asteroid Belt, the Sun, and the Heliosphere. Each heavenly body scale model is distanced to scale from the other bodies in our solar system and is situated on a station, which includes an information plaque."
"Why a Community Orrery?"
"The project is the brainchild of Pinkston Middle School Science teacher Lynn Kelsh who received a grant from the Mountain Home Education Foundation to fund the project. According to Kelsh, 'There are many misconceptions of the relative sizes and distances of the heavenly bodies in our solar system. Books and electronic sources fall short and sometimes reinforce misconceptions when displaying planetary and solar sizes and distances.' The Community Orrery is intended to dispel these misconceptions."
"Where are the Orrery Stations?"
"There are 14 stations in the Community Orrery. Stations for the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Earth are located on the grounds of the Donald W. Reynolds Library serving Baxter County. By visiting the stations at the library you will discover how to find the remaining stations. "
"Many thanks go out for..."
"The enormous community support that has made this project possible, including the 10 Orrery station host sites. Also, thanks to those assisting with the creation and installation of the Orrery, including Baxter County 911 Center, Mountain Home Schools and students, Owen Carpenter, Donald L. Herbert, Jesse Crowley, Travis Geery, Wade Geery, Andy Lassen, Steve Hargett and several area businesses.""