On the north side of the Golden Highway as it goes through Merriwa is a modertately large billboard, giving information about 'The World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive'. It is a scaled model, 38,000,000 smaller than outer space. [The drive, that is!] The road-side facing sign reads:
"Discovered in 1930 by an American astronomer, Pluto was named after the Roman god of the underworld by an 11 year old English schoolgirl. Formerly accepted as the most distant planet from the Sun, tiny Pluto actually cuts inside Neptune's path for 20 years of it 248-year orbit. This next occurs in September 2226. Pluto, a rocky icy object, is smaller than Earth's Moon and it would fit between Perth and Sydney. In recent years more distant objects larger than Pluto have been discovered orbiting the Sun in the so called Kulper Belt. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in August 2006, and is now considered to be a member of the Kulper Belt."
The Virtual Solar System Drive starts at Siding Springs Observatory, about 28 km west of Coonabarabran, and on the drive to Coonabarabran Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter are represented at the appropriately scaled distances. From there you may come across Saturn, Uranus, Neptune (at Coolah), and Pluto, here at Merriwa.
Below the sign is the following:
Experience the World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive
"Welcome to the World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive, an astronomy adventure where the wonders of our universe can be seen right here in regional NSW.
"From Pluto, you can shuttle toward the Sun in this Solar System Model - a scaled version of our real Solar System but 38 million times smaller. See three dimensional planet models attached to starry billboard signs as you make your way to Coonabarabran and Siding Spring Observatory - Australia's largest optical astronomy research centre.
"The planets and distances between each have been scaled to create a cosmic journery where you can learn interesting facts about outer space. The sun in this model is represented by the giant 37 metre Anglo-Australian Observatory domw nestled in the spectacular Warrumbungle National Park. The dome houses the giant Anglo-Australian Telescope and is located 28 kilometres west of Coonabarabran at Siding Spring Observatory.
"Planets are locate on roadsides, at RTA rest areas and Visitor Information Centres along the five main roads that link the observatory with the regional towns of Dubb, Tamworth, Glugong, Moree and Merriwa."
At the far right if the sign is the following information about the various Drives, Plantes, Situations, Distance (to Coonabarabran), and Times.
* All drives end at Siding Spring Observatory *
[Location of Planets, distances (km) and times to Siding Spring Observatory.]
Drive 1: Dubbo
Pluto Dubbo Visitor Centre, Newell Hwy 190 k 2hr10
Neptune Gilgandra Cooee Heritage Centre Newell Hwy 119 k 1.5hr
Uranus Yooraweenah Rest Area, Newell Hwy 79 k 70min
Saturn Camkeena Rest Area, Newell Hwy 40 k 30min
Jupiter Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran 21.5k 15min
Mars Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran 5.5k 10min
EARTH Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 4.1k 5min
Venus Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 1.9k 2min
Mercury Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 1.2k 1min
The Sun Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 0k 0
Drive 2: Gulgong
Pluto 6 km south of Birriwa, Castlereagh Hwy 157k 1hr50
Neptune Milling Park, Golden Hwy, Dunedoo 132k 1hr20
Uranus New Mollyan, Mendooran Rd 70k 1hr
[For Saturn to the Sun see Drive 1]
Drive 3: Merriwa
Pluto Rotary Park, Golden Hwy, Merriwa 205k 2.5hr
Neptune Jerrock's Park, Binnie Street, Coolah 118k 1.5hr
Uranus Ulinda, Warrumbungles Way 74k 1hr
Saturn Deringulla Bridge, Warrumbungles Way 41k 35min
[For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1]
Drive 4: Tamworth
Pluto Rest Area opposite Tamworth Airport 197k 2hr15
Neptune Gunnedah, Oxley Hwy, Near Rural Museum 133k 1hr20
Uranus Oxley Hwy, Goolhi Rd turn-off 79k 50min
Saturn Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area 34k 30min
[For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1]
Drive 5: Moree
Pluto Sugar's Park, Newell Hwy, Bellata 193k 2hr15
Neptune Pillga R/A 2, Newell Hwy, south of Narrabri 119k 1.5hr
Uranus Yaminbah Rest Area, Newell Hwy 79k 50min
Saturn Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area 34k 30min
[For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1]
NOTE: Distances and times are approximate only.
Visited: 0816, Friday, 21 September, 2018