Experience the awesome size of the universe by touring an accurate scale model of our solar system. We have created a Community Solar System as part of the Welcome to the Universe exhibit at the Museum of Science. Starting from the Charles Hayden Planetarium, the Community Solar System is anchored by an 11.6 ft (3.5 m) diameter Sun -- that is 400 million times smaller than the real thing! We've used the same 1-to-400 million scale (where 1 inch equals 6,215 miles or 10,000 km) to place a set of planet sculptures in exhibit kiosks around the greater Boston area. Each location marks that planets' scaled distance from our model sun. Click on the map to see a zoomed in view of the locations of the inner planets.

Download the Community Solar System Passport! Download the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view your Passport.

What to Do Tour the Solar System Visit all nine planets in our Community Solar System. The planets can be reached by public transportation and are all wheelchair-accessible, but some locations may not be open to the public 24 hours a day. Find out more about how to get to the individual planet locations. "Stamp" Your Passport Download your own printable "Community Solar System Official Passport". At each planet make a rubbing of the planet's symbol on the page provided in the passport. Bring a pencil - pens and markers don't produce good rubbings. Mail It In After you have collected all nine rubbings, send the "stamped" page to us at: Community Solar System Charles Hayden Planetarium Science Park Boston, MA 02114-1099 Make sure your name and address are clearly printed. We'll send you a certificate of completion. The first 500 visitors to complete a passport will also receive two planetarium show passes.