1. 1 HEA Program Inspires Two-County Scale Model of Solar System
Heliophysics Educator Ambassador (HEA) Lynn Kelsh was inspired by her NASA training to bring to fruition a two year project that originated at the Adler Planetarium: a large-scale project in Baxter and Marion Counties of Arkansas showing the relative size and positions of the planets in our solar system.
It begins at the Donald W. Reynolds Baxter County Library with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Earth; the other planets are located through latitude and longitude declinations on each standard marking the next place to look. Each heavenly body is distanced to scale from the other bodies in our solar system, and each site (8 planets, 3 dwarf planets, the Asteroid Belt, the Sun, and the Heliosphere) includes a scale model, and an information plaque. 
In addition, Kelsh has added a geocaching element to the project - Solar Trekking.  GPS coordinates for the locations of each heavenly body are posted on the official geocaching website
The final site includes a cache box with a “treasure” to find and replace with one from the searcher.  Families can log onto the website, get the coordinates, and go on a solar system hunt.
The scale model of the solar system is slated to have a two year run, although a recent user says, “Terrific cache and what a learning experience. Thanks to all that made this possible, I hope it can live longer than 2 years so that even my great grandchildren can enjoy this cache.”
         
“There are many misconceptions of the relative sizes and distances of the heavenly bodies in our solar system. Books and electronic sources fall short and sometimes reinforce misconceptions when displaying planetary and solar sizes and distances.” 
Middle school teacher
Lynn Kelsh 1
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