Pluto and Back for bed

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=22 BGCOLOR="#330099" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040000d2erkqrf.gif"> <div> Derby and District Astronomical Society - Aries Magazine</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#333399" TEXT="#080000" background="03fa2c00erkjzj.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aries Astronomy magazine on line From th"><U>HOME</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="editorial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aries on line Autumn 2000 editorial"><U>Aries on line - Autumn 2000 editorial</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="double_stars.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Double Stars"><U>Double Stars</U></A></div> <div> <B>Pluto and Back for bed</B></div> <div> <A HREF="vla.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VLA Radio telescope"><U>VLA Radio telescope</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beginners nebulae"><U>Beginners - nebulae</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Forgotten Astronauts"><U>Forgotten Astronauts</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sky Scene Oct Dec 2000"><U>Sky Scene Oct - Dec 2000</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=458 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="06a92963.gif"> <div> <B>Aries Astronomy magazine on line- From the Derby and District Astronomical Society</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04107040.gif" border=0 width="263" height="4" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Pluto And Back For Bedtime!</div> <div> <I><B>Author: Steve Parkins</B></I></div> <bR> <div> As some of you may be aware when I am not `doing` astronomy one of my other pastimes is cycling. I admit not so much now as in the past hence the added compressive stress on the bathroom scales, but recently I attended the annual Cyclists Touring Club rally held on York racecourse the Knavesmire.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="07633b70.gif" border=0 width="307" height="183" ALT="Serif DrawPlus" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Among the various stalls and amusements displayed was one showing a map of the Solar system, rather incongruous I thought at a cycling rally, where the only usual astronomical links are the planetary gears in a Sturmey-Archer rear hub. I spotted this stall from all of 75 yards</div> <div> away making me wonder if after all these years in the game I have developed some kind of radar for all things astronomical whatever the circumstances. Anyway , a further investigation and discussion with the stall holder I discovered that a scale model of the solar system has been laid out along one of the refurbished cycle tracks created by the Sustrans organisation, this particular one is accessed from quite close to the racecourse.</div> <bR> <div> Along with a small group of other cyclists and the stall holder leading the way I set out in the afternoon to explore the planets on my blke. ( NASA`s wish : If only! ).</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="07ad8cf0.gif" border=0 width="216" height="207" ALT="Serif DrawPlus" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Sun is represented by an eight feet in diameter golden globe mounted impressively off the ground. We were informed that the planets were all to scale in size as well as distance and as we all know the planets are not equidistant from the Sun and so in a matter of a few yards we had passed a small pinhead (Mercury) and a couple of marbles ( Venus and Earth). Each planet is mounted on a plinth with an explanatory plaque and also painted to give some idea of surface features. As we rode on the enormity and emptiness of the solar system became apparent. Two kilometres beyond mars we came to football sized Jupiter then a similar distance to Saturn and eventually after about six and a half miles we came to something the size of a piece of gravel (Pluto).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="07802d90.gif" border=0 width="258" height="217" ALT="Serif DrawPlus" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This was a most impressive display and one that could be walked as well as cycled but remember if your feet begin to ache , well, you are walking at the speed of light!</div> <bR> <div>  See web site <A HREF="http://www.solar.york.ac.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.solar.york.ac.uk"><U>www.solar.york.ac.uk</U></A> for more information.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>