Sagan Planet Walk
The Sagan Planet Walk is a walking scale model of the solar system, extending 1.2 km from the center of The Commons in downtown Ithaca, NY, to the Sciencenter, a hands-on museum featuring over 250 exhibits.
The exhibition was created in memory of Ithaca resident and Cornell Professor Carl Sagan by the Sciencenter in 1997. Professor Sagan had been a founding member of the museum's advisory board and was instrumental in developing the institution's educational philosophy.
Updated June 6, 2013: The City of Ithaca has begun an estimated two-year reconstruction of the downtown Ithaca Commons. As a result, the permanent Sagan Planet Walk monuments for the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars have been removed and temporary stations in the form of painted panels along the construction wall are up. You can still walk the entire Sagan Planet Walk, originating at the center of the Ithaca Commons (at American Crafts), and follow the usual pace towards M&T Bank. Around the corner on Seneca St is the Asteroid Belt and the rest of the Sagan Planet Walk can be followed to the Sciencenter.
Passports may still be purchased at all participating locations; the Sun and inner planet stamps can be obtained at M&T Bank and 15 Steps. While at the Sciencenter, be sure to check out the replica of the Alpha Centauri station (located in Hawaii).
We will continue to update this page as we learn more about the developments of the construction.
Free Audio Tour
Learn more about the Solar System and the planets as you explore the Sagan Planet Walk. The FREE tour is narrated by Bill Nye the Science Guy. Listen to the tour by phone at 703.637.6237. Download from iTunes or our Sagan Planet Walk Podcast Page.
Passport to the Solar System
Purchase a "Passport to the Solar System" for $4 and take your fully stamped passport to the Sciencenter to receive one free admission.
You can also download the "Passport to the Solar System" for free below. Please note that the downloadable passports do not qualify for free admission to the Sciencenter.
- Download the "Passport to the Solar System"
- Download the Teacher's Edition of the "Passport to the Solar System." You may use this version to make Xerox copies for your class.
Map
Archive: Dedication and Press Releases
- Interview with Sciencenter Director – 10/21/2012
- Alpha Centauri Dedication - 9/28/2012
- Press Release - 9/18/1997
- Press Release - 10/24/1997
- Dedication Ceremony Remarks -11/8/1997
History, Biography & Addendums
Project Design Measurements
| OBJECT | Orbit Radius (kilometers) |
Object Diameter |
Scaled Orbit Radius (meters) | Scaled Object Diameter (millimeters) |
| Sun | 0 | 1,392,000 | 0 | 278 |
| Mercury | 58,000,000 | 4,980 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Venus | 108,000,000 | 12,360 | 22 | 2.5 |
| Earth | 150,000,000 | 12,742 | 30 | 2.5 |
| Mars | 228,000,000 | 6,760 | 46 | 1.4 |
| Jupiter | 778,000,000 | 142,600 | 156 | 28.5 |
| Saturn | 1,430,000,000 | 120,600 | 286 | 24.1 |
| Uranus | 2,870,000,000 | 47,000 | 574 | 9.4 |
| Neptune | 4,490,000,000 | 44,600 | 898 | 8.9 |
| Pluto | 5,900,000,000 | 2,274 | 1,180 | 0.4 |
