composite photo

The SunThe SunThe centre of the Sun has a temperature of at least 15 million degrees. The centre of the Sun has a temperature of at least 15 million degrees. It takes light 8.5 minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth.It takes light 8.5 minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

www.solarsystemdrive.comwww.solarsystemdrive.com

Did you know?•Some rocks found on Earth are actually pieces of Mars•The Sun makes up 99.86% of the Solar System’s mass! That means that all the planets put together as well as all the asteroids only make up about 0.14% of the Solar System

The Solar System Drive is a daytime experience. Visitors are encouraged to stop at each planet in a safe manner, taking care when pulling off and back onto the roadway. Visitors please note that Siding Spring Observatory is only open during the day, please check the website for opening times: www.sidingspringexploratory.com.au

If you’ve ever wondered how vast our Solar System actually is, then it’s time to launch into Coonabarabran, Central NSW, and travel through space faster than the speed of light. Sound impossible? Well it’s not when you tour the World’s Largest Virtual Solar System Drive. Discover one or more of the fi ve drives that lead to Australia’s largest optical astronomy research centre, Siding Spring Observatory, when you journey through the Solar System and picturesque NSW countryside. See three dimensional planet models attached to starry billboard signs that have been scaled 38 million times smaller than outer space! And the distance between each planet is also scaled, just like shuttling your way through our real Solar System. This means if you were travelling at 100km/hr in your car you’d be “virtually” hurtling through space at a million kilometres per second—more than three times faster than the speed of light!

Siding Spring Observatory is home to

the giant 3.9 metre Anglo-Australian Telescope and located 28 kilometres west of Coonabarabran - aptly known as the Astronomy Capital of Australia - in the Warrumbungle Shire. Nestled in the spectacular Warrumbungle National Park, the

37-metre Anglo-Australian Observatory dome represents the Sun in this scaled Solar System model. Planets

are located on roadsides, at RTA rest areas and Visitor Information Centres along the fi ve main roads that link the observatory with the regional towns of Dubbo, Tamworth, Gulgong, Moree and Merriwa.

visit visit www.solarsystemdrive.comwww.solarsystemdrive.com

for more information on the drives for more information on the drives and the planets...and the planets...

The Sun is over 1.39 million kilometres wide but if The Sun is over 1.39 million kilometres wide but if it were the size of the 37-metre Anglo-Australian it were the size of the 37-metre Anglo-Australian Telescope Dome at Siding Spring Observatory, Pluto Telescope Dome at Siding Spring Observatory, Pluto would be up to 200 kilometres away, and the size would be up to 200 kilometres away, and the size of a billiard ball!of a billiard ball!

Accredited Visitor Information Centres

COONABARABRAN COONABARABRAN 1800 242 881DUNEDOODUNEDOO 1800 242 881NARRABRINARRABRI 1800 659 931TAMWORTHTAMWORTH 6767 5300GUNNEDAHGUNNEDAH 6740 2230

MERRIWAMERRIWA 6548 2607MUDGEEMUDGEE 6372 1020GULGONGGULGONG 6374 1202DUBBODUBBO 6801 4450GILGANDRAGILGANDRA 6817 8700

Coonabarabran Visitor Information CentreFreecall 1800 242 881

Saturn Saturn Saturn would fl oat if Saturn would fl oat if you could throw it in a you could throw it in a bucket of water. The bucket of water. The fascinating ring system fascinating ring system observed by Galileo in observed by Galileo in 1610 is only beginning 1610 is only beginning to be understood. First to be understood. First thought to be moons of thought to be moons of Saturn, it is now known Saturn, it is now known that the rings comprise that the rings comprise trillions of ice and rock trillions of ice and rock chunks ranging in size chunks ranging in size from dust particles to from dust particles to the size of a small car.the size of a small car.

Uranus Uranus First recorded in 1690 as First recorded in 1690 as being a star, it took 91 being a star, it took 91 years for astronomers years for astronomers to realize that a mistake to realize that a mistake had been made and had been made and that this was the Solar that this was the Solar System’s 7th planet. System’s 7th planet. Uranus takes some 84 Uranus takes some 84 years to orbit the Sun.years to orbit the Sun.

NeptuneNeptuneThe blue colour of the The blue colour of the planet Neptune is due planet Neptune is due to the absorption of red to the absorption of red light by methane in the light by methane in the atmosphere. Neptune atmosphere. Neptune has stronger winds has stronger winds than any other planet than any other planet in the Solar System in the Solar System with gusts up to 2,500 with gusts up to 2,500 km/hour.km/hour.

PlutoPlutoPluto is not always the Pluto is not always the furthest planet from the furthest planet from the Sun. For 20 years of its Sun. For 20 years of its 248-year orbit, Pluto is 248-year orbit, Pluto is closer to the Sun than closer to the Sun than Neptune. In August Neptune. In August 2006, the General 2006, the General Assembly of the Inter-Assembly of the Inter-national Astronomical national Astronomical Union reclassifi ed Pluto Union reclassifi ed Pluto as a “dwarf planet”. Its as a “dwarf planet”. Its demotion means there demotion means there are now only 8 planets are now only 8 planets in our Solar System.in our Solar System.

JupiterJupiterJupiter rotates about its Jupiter rotates about its axis in only 9 hours, 55 axis in only 9 hours, 55 minutes, as compared minutes, as compared with 23 hours, 56 with 23 hours, 56 minutes for Earth. minutes for Earth. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Jupiter’s Great Red Spot probably smells of garlic probably smells of garlic and one of Jupiter’s and one of Jupiter’s moons (Io) looks like moons (Io) looks like pizza!pizza!

MercuryMercuryMercury is the closest Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, but planet to the Sun, but its dark side is one of its dark side is one of the coldest places in the coldest places in the Solar System, with the Solar System, with temperatures as low as temperatures as low as minus 173°C.minus 173°C. MarsMars

Mars is the planet that Mars is the planet that is considered the best is considered the best candidate (besides candidate (besides Earth) to harbour life. Earth) to harbour life. Olympus Mons, located Olympus Mons, located on Mars, is the largest on Mars, is the largest volcano in the Solar volcano in the Solar System— it’s 3 times System— it’s 3 times higher than Mount higher than Mount Everest.Everest.

EarthEarthOur moon is moving Our moon is moving away from Earth at away from Earth at about 3.8cm per year. about 3.8cm per year. There is enough railroad There is enough railroad track on the Earth to go track on the Earth to go to the moon and back to the moon and back several times. Why is several times. Why is this planet named Earth this planet named Earth when 71% of its surface when 71% of its surface consists of water?consists of water?

VenusVenusVenus is the hottest Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar planet in the Solar System with tempera-System with tempera-tures reaching 450º tures reaching 450º Celsius. It is so hot, Celsius. It is so hot, that it can melt lead. that it can melt lead. Venus also probably Venus also probably once had oceans but once had oceans but they all boiled away they all boiled away into the atmosphere.into the atmosphere.

Other attractionsOther attractionsThere’s plenty to see and do as you travel through the spec-tacular countryside of regional NSW. Beautiful national parks provide excellent opportunities for bushwalking, camping, photography and rock climbing. Discover the numerous native animals and birds, see the

stunning wildfl owers in Spring, and experience the region’s impressive wine tasting areas. As part of your cosmic experi-ence through the Solar System, why not drop into one or more of the area’s six observatories – located at Parkes, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narrabri, and Coonabarabran - and see fi rst hand what astronomy and science has to offer.

Gilgandra ObservatoryGilgandra ObservatoryWillie Street, Gilgandra, 2827Phone: 02 6847 2646

a a research-grade telescoperesearch-grade telescope open to the public open to the public

Open: 7pm to 10pm Mon to Sat 8:30pm to 10pm (during daylight saving)

Guided tours of the night skiesGuided tours of the night skiesDisplay centre with interactive Display centre with interactive computer simulations computer simulations

The DrivesThe DrivesAll drives end at Siding Spring ObservatoryAll drives end at Siding Spring ObservatoryLocation of Planets and distances (km) Location of Planets and distances (km) toto Siding Siding Spring ObservatorySpring Observatory

Drive 1: DubboDrive 1: DubboPluto Dubbo Visitor Centre, Newell Hwy 190190

Neptune Gilgandra Cooee Heritage Centre, Newell Hwy 119119

Uranus Tooraweenah Rest Area, Newell Hwy 7979

Saturn Camkeena Rest Area, Newell Hwy 4040

Jupiter Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran 21.521.5

Mars Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran 5.55.5

Earth Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 4.14.1

Venus Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 1.91.9

Mercury Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran 1.21.2

The Sun Siding Spring Observatory 0

Drive 2: GulgongDrive 2: GulgongPluto 6km south of Birriwa, Castlereagh Hwy 157157

Neptune Milling Park, Golden Hwy Dunedoo 132132

Uranus New Mollyan, Mendooran Rd 7070

For Saturn to the Sun see Drive 1

Drive 3: MerriwaDrive 3: MerriwaPluto Rotary Park, Golden Hwy Merriwa 205205

Neptune Jorrock’s Park, Binnia Street, Coolah 118118

Uranus Ulinda, Warrumbungles Way 7474

Saturn Deringulla Bridge, Warrumbungles Way 4141

For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1

Drive 4: TamworthDrive 4: TamworthPluto Rest Area opposite Tamworth Airport 197197

Neptune Gunnedah, Oxley Hwy, near Rural Museum 133133

Uranus Oxley Hwy, Gooli Rd turn-off 7979

Saturn Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area 3434

For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1

Drive 5: MoreeDrive 5: MoreePluto Sugar’s Park, Newell Hwy Bellata 193193

Neptune Pilliga Rest Area 2, Newell Hwy, south Narrabri

119119

Uranus Yaminbah Rest Area, Newell Hwy 7979

Saturn Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area 3434

For Jupiter to the Sun see Drive 1

Note: Distances are approximate only

www.csiro.au/parkesdish02 6861 1777

Open 7 days 8.30-4.15, Newell Hwy20km north of Parkes

100km south of Dubbo

visitors centre and dish caféTHE DISH - Parkes radio telescope

Visit the Australia Telescopenear Narrabri & Parkes

Open 7 days daylight hours, Yarrie Lake Rd20km west of Narrabri

visitors centreCompact Array Narrabri

02 6790 4070www.csiro.au/narrabriobservatory

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MENDOORANMENDOORAN

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GILGANDRAGILGANDRACollieCollie

WELLINGTONWELLINGTON

PARKESPARKES

Coolah TopsCoolah TopsNational ParkNational Park

Tambar SpringsTambar Springs

MullaleyMullaley

BoggabriBoggabri

Mt. KaputarMt. KaputarNational ParkNational Park

GulargamboneGulargambone

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Timor RTimor Rd.

WarrumbungleWarrumbungleNational ParkNational Park

KenebriKenebri

Siding SpringObservatoryObservatory

TheThe largestlargest opticaloptical telescopetelescope inin AustraliaAustralia

exhibits cafe

Timor Road, Coonabarabran. Ph 6842 6211

For opening times please check our website

www.sidingspringexploratory.com.au

SATURNSATURN

Timor Rd.Timor Rd.

Dubbo Observatory

dubbodubbo’s star attractions star attraction

night: zoom around the

moon and explore the

planets and beyond with

our state of the art

computerised telescopes.

day: putt around the

universe on our 18 hole

mini golf course.

17L Camp Road Dubbo, Phone 6885 3022

Astronomy ActivitiesActivities

*Guided Tours

*Telescope Viewing

*Planetarium

*Sun Viewing

*Space Exhibition

*Astro Mini-Golf

*Constellation Garden

StarThai RestaurantStarThai Restaurant

*Coeliac and other dietary needs catered for

*Complimentary Mini-Golf with dinner and stars

*Bookings recommended

Astronomy Astronomy sessions sessions dailydaily

Timor Road, Coonabarabran, NSW 2357 · fax: 02 6842 2978Timor Road, Coonabarabran, NSW 2357 · fax: 02 6842 2978astro@skywatchobservatory.com · www.skywatchobservatory.comastro@skywatchobservatory.com · www.skywatchobservatory.comOpen: 10.30am until late - every day except Christmas DayOpen: 10.30am until late - every day except Christmas Day

Observatory &

phone phone 02 6842 330302 6842 3303

Be an Astronomer for a Night!Be an Astronomer for a Night!

BaradineBaradine

Siding Spring ObservatorySiding Spring Observatory

While the majority of planets have been accurately located at sites that refl ect the relative distance from the While the majority of planets have been accurately located at sites that refl ect the relative distance from the Sun, safety considerations have resulted in some planets being positioned slightly out of their usual orbit!Sun, safety considerations have resulted in some planets being positioned slightly out of their usual orbit!

Photo: David Kirkland Photo: David Kirkland