World’s Largest Virtual Solar System Drive - Mars - Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia
Posted by: 
jinkson
S 31° 16.972 E 149° 04.823
55J E 698038 N 6537180
Mars is 5.5 kilometres from the Sun which is represented by the 37 metre Anglo-Australian Telescope dome at Siding Spring Observatory Coonabarabran NSW Australia
Waymark Code: WME6WY
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 04/11/2012
Views: 6
The World’s Largest Virtual Solar System Drive was an idea generated by Coonabarabran astronomer John Shobbrook in 1997. The aim was to provide a unique opportunity for tourists and students to experience first hand the vastness of our Solar System and develop an interest in astronomy and science.
The planets are displayed on huge billboards with the size of the planets and the distance between each billboard scaled relative to the dome – the Sun - along the five main roads that lead to Coonabarabran in regional NSW.
There are 24 planets located at Visitor Information Centres and on roadsides between the observatory and the regional NSW towns of Dubbo, Tamworth, Gulgong, Moree and Merriwa to allow visitors to stop and experience all things astronomical.
The Sun, is represented by the 37-metre Anglo-Australian Telescope dome at Siding Spring Observatory.
If you’re travelling in your car at 100km/hr along the Solar System Drive, you’d be “virtually” hurtling through space at a million kilometres per second - more than three times faster than the speed of light.
Address:
Timor Road
Coonabarabran, NSW Australia
2357
To-Scale by distance: yes
To-Scale by Size: yes
Is the model an Orrery?: no
Web Page: [Web Link]
Hours:
All Hours
Admission Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
To post a visit to a solar system model, please include at least one picture of the model, preferably from a different perspective from the other photos already taken. You and/or your GPS unit need not be in it. More photos are encouraged. Please also describe your visit in the log. If you cannot take a photo, then please describe your visit well enough so that readers can form a "mental picture".