Colorado Scale Model Solar System: A Cosmic Walk

Walk the solar system at CU Boulder! Explore a 1:10 billion scale model and discover the vast distances between planets in an engaging, educational setting.

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Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

Explore a 1:10 billion scale model of our solar system on the CU Boulder campus, stretching from the Fiske Planetarium. This engaging exhibit allows visitors to grasp the vast distances between planets through a scenic walk with informative plaques.

A brief summary to Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

2510 Kittredge Loop Dr, Boulder, Colorado, 80305, US

Monday 12 am-12 am
Tuesday 12 am-12 am
Wednesday 12 am-12 am
Thursday 12 am-12 am
Friday 12 am-12 am
Saturday 12 am-12 am
Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

Download the Wanderers CU app for an immersive audio experience that responds to your location within the model.
Visit during daylight hours for the best visibility of the plaques and planetary models.
Check the Fiske Planetarium's schedule for related events or shows that complement the solar system model.

Getting There

Walking

From the Boulder Downtown area, walk south on Broadway St towards Canyon Blvd. Continue on Broadway for about 0.5 miles until you reach the intersection with Arapahoe Ave. Turn left onto Arapahoe Ave and walk for about 0.3 miles until you reach 28th St. Turn right on 28th St and continue south for about 0.5 miles. After crossing the intersection with Colorado Ave, turn left onto Kittredge Loop Dr. The Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System will be on your right at 2510 Kittredge Loop Dr. There are no costs associated with walking.
Public Transport

From the Boulder Downtown area, catch the RTD Bus Route 204 (to the University of Colorado) at the Boulder Transit Center. Ride the bus for about 15 minutes and get off at the stop at 28th St & Colorado Ave. From there, walk east on Colorado Ave for about 0.2 miles until you reach the intersection with Kittredge Loop Dr. Turn left onto Kittredge Loop Dr, and the Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System will be on your left at 2510 Kittredge Loop Dr. A three-hour local pass on HOP and RTD buses costs $3.
Taxi

From downtown Boulder, a taxi to the Colorado Scale Model Solar System will cost approximately $9.50. The model is located at 2510 Kittredge Loop Dr, Boulder, CO 80305. Taxi fares in Boulder start at $2.50, with an additional $1.40 per kilometer.

Discover more about Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

The Colorado Scale Model Solar System, located at the University of Colorado Boulder, offers an engaging and educational experience for all ages. This outdoor exhibit depicts the Sun, the planets, and the distances between them all on a scale of 1 to 10 billion. The model begins outside the Fiske Planetarium with the Sun, about the size of a grapefruit. As you walk along the path, you'll encounter each planet represented proportionally to its distance from the Sun, complete with informative plaques. The inner planets, like Earth (the size of a ballpoint pen tip), are relatively close to the Sun, while the outer planets, like Jupiter (the size of a marble), are much farther apart. The model stretches for about a third of a mile, ending with the dwarf planet Pluto. This provides a tangible understanding of the immense scale of our solar system. Originally dedicated in 1987 to the memory of the Challenger astronauts, including CU Boulder alumnus Ellison S. Onizuka, the model was updated in 2021 as the first installation of a Voyage Mark II model. The updated model also commemorates the Columbia crew, including CU Boulder alumna Dr. Kalpana Chawla. Enhance your visit with the Wanderers CU mobile app, which provides a responsive sound experience triggered by GPS as you move through the model.

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Unmissable attractions to see

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Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

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Colorado Scale Model Solar System: A Cosmic Walk

A brief summary to Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

Local tips

Getting There

Walking

Public Transport

Taxi

Unlock the Best of Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Colorado Scale Model of the Solar System, CU Boulder

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Landmark Lofts

Dairy Arts Center

Boulder Historic Preservation

Visit Boulder

Hannah Barker House

Historic Boulder, Inc.

RE/MAX Alliance - Boulder

R Gallery & Boulder Wine Bar

Mork & Mindy House

Carnegie Library for Local History

Arnett-Fullen House

Jeanelle & Sayres Law Group Auto Accident Lawyers

Morse Well

Boulder County

Lost Gulch Overlook

Unmissable attractions to see

Fiske Planetarium

CU Events Center

University of Colorado Boulder

Ride Colorado

Folsom Field

University of Colorado Museum of Natural History

Underwater Fish Observatory

CU Heritage Center

Macky Auditorium Concert Hall

Beach Park

The Fox Theatre

Scott Carpenter Park

Chautauqua Park

Emma Gomez Martinez Park

Royal Arch Trail Head

Essential places to dine

Dark Horse

Carelli's

Ado's Kitchen

Alice and Rose

The Sink

Rincon Argentino

Chautauqua Dining Hall

Thrive

The Buff

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Arabesque

Frasca Food and Wine

Leaf

River and Woods

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The Root of the HIll

Meow Meow

SLCT Stock Colorado

The Boulder Store

Twenty Ninth Street

Crystal Dragon

Altar'd State Twenty Ninth Street

Boulder Nepal

Jones + Co Modern Mercantile

Loop Boulder

Bliss Boulder

Boulder Bazaar

Lunieva

BoCo Life LLC

Zuni

Essential bars & hidden hideouts

The Lounge at the Boulder Theater

T-Zero Lounge

Attic Bar & Bistro