CELEBRATING THE WORLD''S LARGEST SOLAR SYSTEM MODEL IN NORTHERN MAINE
Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of participating in a ceremony marking another great achievement that grew out of the generosity, imagination, and cooperative spirit that are so much a part of living in our state. Professor Kevin McCartney, a geologist at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI), conceived a remarkable idea to help illustrate the massive size of our solar system. He wanted to build a model of the solar system, from Pluto to the sun, that would actually reflect the true scale of the planets and the distances between them. The trouble is that if Pluto – the smallest planet – is made one inch big, it would have to be 40 miles from the sun! Professor McCartney, however, thought big: after all, he lives in Aroostook County, not just the largest county in Maine, but the largest county east of the Mississippi River.
Inspired by the sweeping beauty of Northern Maine, Professor McCartney forged ahead with his plans to build a scale solar system, at a ratio of one to 93 million. His project has transformed the majesty of Aroostook County into an extraordinary teaching tool. Traveling from Houlton to Presque Isle along Route 1, you will see that the landscape of potato fields and small towns is the home of replicas of the nine planets, as well as their various moons. Jupiter is 5 feet wide and weighs close to a ton; Pluto, on the other hand, is about the size of a ping pong ball and is mounted on the wall of the visitor's center in Houlton, and the sun is in Folsom Hall at UMPI. To see what it is like to travel at the speed of light, just start driving up Route 1 from Houlton – going 7 miles per hour! It's just another way that the model illustrates the almost incomprehensible scale of our universe by recasting it in a way we can all appreciate. The Aroostook solar system model is unique in two ways: first, it is the largest to-scale solar system in the world. And second, most of the planets are outside, making it the most accessible model in the world.
Professor McCartney could not have turned his vision into a reality without the help of the residents of Aroostook County. More than 500 volunteers pitched in to help construct the planets, moons, poles, and other displays. They pulled off this feat without any federal funds or state grants. It took four years, but their combined efforts and ingenuity produced incredible results. Students from kindergarten to high school pitched in to help paint the planets, while others learning vocational skills offered up their welding expertise. Local residents helped build the platforms to hold the planets, and in some cases, farmers donated the land where various replicas are installed.
I was, therefore, especially pleased to be able to attend the dedication of this terrific project, which took place last month in front of the model of Saturn, a little bit less than halfway to Houlton. At my request, Lt. Col Rex Walheim, an astronaut who has spent over a week in space and more than 14 hours on a "space walk," came on behalf of NASA to offer his congratulations to the many project participants. For the many young people who took part in the effort to bring the solar system model into being, Col. Walheim helped show them, once again, the importance and the fun that can be had studying the sciences.
The astronomer Galileo once said that "The universe cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written." Undertakings like the Maine Solar System Model help us to enrich the popular understanding of some of the most difficult and awe-inspiring notions about our world and what lies beyond it. I'm very proud – especially as a native of Aroostook County – that our state is home to this great project, as well as so many other unique treasures. The Maine Solar System Model combines the spectacular landscapes of Maine with the ingenuity and generosity of Maine people, and for those looking for new adventures this summer, a trip to see the model and to try and spot the planets along the highway is certainly an enjoyable way to see our state and learn about the wonders of astronomy.
