The contrast of an open desert floor to the vastness of space has more similarities than you might imagine. Capturing the essence of how small our planet is in relation to the size of our solar system is a difficult task. What Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh accomplished in 7 miles of a dry lakebed in Black Rock Desert, Nevada will mesmerize you and make you wish you were part of this project. That is how I felt watching the ultimate sky show that was ironically on the ground. I have and still want to watch it over and over again.
“We are on a marble, floating in nothing. When you come face to face with that, it’s staggering”, as Wylie puts it. Only 24 people in the history of the human species that have seen the entire circumference of our planet with their own eyes (that we know of). But imagination and desire for exploration in embedded in many of us. A full scale model as shown here is the closest thing we can get to seeing vastness of space the two dozen astronauts have experienced. It gives us a better understanding of how we fit in. 
Every image we have online, books, etc. of our solar system is not accurate. The planets are too close together and the size relation can not be shown in one view. This film is a beautiful display of explaining that and showing how it can be done. The use of light, verbal description, natural environment, and the music all fit in a way that should win this crew awards for the film and the demonstration itself. If it was up to me, this would be shown to every kid involved in a STEM activity. For that matter, STEAM, because the artistic aspect of this is as important as the science, technology, engineering, and math.
If you have children in school, watch this with them.
If you are a teacher, watch this and then share with you students.
If you love nature, the sky, space, watch this.
If you are in video production, watch and enjoy how the message has been so delicately transferred to the screen. This should leave you inspired. Note: Pluto was not included since it was reclassified as a ‘dwarf planet’. Please see more info below the video.
Video And Their Own Description: On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe. A film by Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh
Wylie and Alex are producing a series of “To Scale” science films. Feel like supporting more films like this? Consider becoming a Patron: Please share your thoughts, best weather pics/video, or just keep in touch via social media
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