MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Unique model of the Solar System unveiled in Falkland Islands
A scale model of the solar system, described as ”unique' by its creator, was unveiled in Stanley on Saturday afternoon by Miss Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands Government Representative in London.
There are many scale models of the solar system in the world; several North American states boast one, there's one in the Swiss Alps, another huge one in Sweden and one which combines with a cycle track outside the ancient city of York, in England. In the largest, said by the Guinness Book of Records to be the one in Peoria, Illinois, a scale of 42ft to one million miles is used and consequently in this model, the distance between the Sun and Pluto is some 40 miles. Furthermore, in this model, as in many others, some, if not all of the planets are located inside buildings and can be difficult to see.
The Falkland Islands Solar System Model, created by Dutch-born, but long-time Stanley resident, Rob Yssel, uses a scale of 1:1,000,000,000. This means that Pluto, located on the top of Mount Tumbledown, is just 5.9kms from the Sun, and therefore, within walking distance, especially when walking, to scale, at four times the speed of light.
The Sun, located at the water's edge, just to the East of the 1914 Battle Monument, is represented by a sphere 1.4m in diameter, and is therefore visible with binoculars from Pluto and, indeed from any of the other planets in the system. These are also created to scale and mounted on triangular brass stands 0.7m high, either along the harbour's edge or, like Pluto, on surrounding hills.
The fact that all of the planets are in line of sight - a crucial element to help people understand the size of the Solar System - makes this model a unique visitor attraction for the Falklands, claims Rob Yssel, who also hopes that his model ? very much a labour of love and the fruit of two years of planning and effort ? will have educational value for children, but also provide residents and visitors to Stanley alike with a bit of encouragement to get out of town and walk. In this way, Rob hopes, people will combine learning with healthy activity; gain a better appreciation of the beauty of our own planet and a greater determination to help preserve it.
In keeping with his conservationist views, all the planets in Rob Yssel's very own solar system are made from reclaimed metals: aluminium, chrome, copper, iron, lead, silver, tin, vanadium and zinc, all found on the Islands. Each in its own way, a work of art, the planets contain no plastics or chemical resins and Rob has left them unpainted to allow time and the weather to continue the creative process that he has begun.
John Fowler (MP) Stanley
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