Interstellar distances
Interstellar distances
Audio Guide:
The distances between celestial objects are extremely far. For instance, the distance from Earth to the Sun is 150 million kilometers. Huge numbers like this can be mind-boggling. Thus, astronomers developed new ways of expressing cosmic distances. The distance from Earth to the Sun is defined as the astronomical unit. For farther distances, the speed of light is more suited for describing astronomical length. Astronomers therefore define the distance that light travels in vacuum in one year as one light-year, which is around 10 trillion kilometers.
You can find an Earth model scaled down by 5 billion times to only 0.3 centimeter in diameter. Following the foot prints on the floor, you can find models of other celestial bodies in our solar system such as the Sun, Jupiter, or Saturn. Experience the vastness of the universe for yourself!
Exhibit Introduction:
Explain the distance between each other if we minify the celestial objects in proportion, with a scale and distance that the visitors can imagine, explaining how large and wide the universe is.