Get to Know Your
Friendly Neighborhood Solar System

Take time out of your day to learn about how a day actually happens, not to mention the years, seasons, tides, and phases of the moon. While you're at it, take a peek into the movements, operations, facts, and phenomena of the planetary bodies in our cozy community orbiting the sun SOL. 

See my image carousel in the next section for a visual tour of the devices available in this program. 

Tour the Planets of Our Solar System

After a short bit of orienteering in our galaxy (and Universe), take a quick trip to each of the planets (and one dwarf-planet) in our Solar System and learn a few fun-facts as well as some very useful knowledge.

Explore seasons, Tides & moon phases

After settling into our immediate neighborhood, learn about how  Earth's rotation makes our days, how its orbit makes our seasons, and how the Sun, Moon, and Earth interact to create the Moon's phases and the ocean tides.

Recreate Seasons & Eclipses

At one of our learning station’s we’ll wrap up your trip with a look at the most celebrated (and for some, the most frightening) aspects of Earth's little arrangement with the Moon; the mechanics of both Solar and Lunar eclipses.

Presentation

Are you up for a great visual and hands-on exploration of our planetary family as well as the neighborhood interactions of the Earth, Moon, and Sol?

• Delve into the SOL: A Solar System Journey Presentation

• Download the Program Description/Common Core Map

See what our Partners have to say about this program and others in our Testimonials.

Program Collection for Hands-On Interaction

I am fortunate to have three specialized, elegant, and educational tools for this program:

• Orrery: Consists of nine planets (pre-Pluto demotion) and their major moons orbiting the Sun at a precise 1/250 millionth interval, accurately reflecting the motions of the planets.

• Scale Model of the Solar System: A fully curated and precise 1/2 billionth scale model of the Sun, planets and moons as well as the asteroid belt, the Kuiper belt, and all three officially recognized dwarf planets (Ceres, Eris and Pluto).

• Tellurium: Features a light projecting Sun at the center of an orbiting arm that holds a model of the Earth rotating correctly on its axis as well as the Moon accurately depicted in its tilted orbit.

Program participants observe and/or interact with these tools throughout the program, recording discoveries about the Sun, planets, their motions, the phases of the Moon, the passage of days and seasons, the movements of eclipses, etc. in their special Solar System Passport book.

Click on any photo to learn more about a device. Use the arrows at the left and right to move to different photos or simply allow the photos to scroll automatically.

Delivery Requirements, Logistics & Fees

| Age Range: 9/10-Adult/Senior |
|  Participants: 4-30  |
|  Requirements: Projector, Screen, and Speakers ; 9 large tables, 4 chairs each ; 2 large display tables |
| Setup/Breakdown: 1.5 hours each |
|  Contact for details |

➤ IN-PERSON DELIVERY OPTIONS

Makerspace 3.0 hour Solar System Option: Presentation + Solar System Passport Stations + Sun, Earth, Moon build
\\\ $399+travel \\\

Makespace 3.5 hour Solar System & Eclipses Option: Presentation + Solar System Passport Stations + Eclipse Passport Stations + Sun, Earth, Moon build
\\\ $459+travel \\\

➤ LIVESTREAM DELIVERY OPTIONS

Livestream via your Zoom, Google Meet, Google Classroom, WebEx, or other system

1.0 hour Solar System Option: Presentation Only
\\\ $209 \\\

1.5 hour Solar System & Eclipses Option: Presentation Only
\\\ $229 \\\

MATERIALS & TOOLS

PLEASE BRING THESE MATERIALS

- Learners or schools/libraries are responsible for bringing these materials in both the In-Person and Livestream Makerspace program options.

• Scissors, pencils, and erasers

• Crayons and markers

Pencils for all participants ; Scissors and crayons/markers for 6 participants ; 1.0 hour setup and breakdown times; additional travel charges may apply. Contact for details.

Funding Options

Look into the Funding Options to help bring STEMpunk programming to your school or organization.