Since the space between the planets is enormous relative to the sizes of the planets, few models exist in the world which show the true scale of our solar system, since they have to be miles across. Peoria's model starts at Lakeview Museum of the Arts and Sciences. The Sun is the planetarium dome, and is also painted on the outside of the building. Descriptive graphics about the Sun and the model are located in the planetarium lobby. At each planet location visitors find a custom moldePlexiglas sphere, painted by local spacescape artist Walter Kinsman.
Planets approximate the detail seen in the best space probe astronomical photographs.
The 45 inch sphere of Jupiter is surrounded by a 76 inch ring system of clear Plexiglas, and Saturn's 3 foot sphere is surrounded by a 90 inch ring plane, painted in full detail. Uranus and Neptune also have their rings represented. The full scale utilized is as follows. Please send feedback on this page to Sheldon Schafer.