The imaginative sculpture, much larger than the scale planet, will capture the attention of passers-by on the Fair Oaks Avenue sidewalk or from within Central Park, while suggesting some aspects of our planet Earth. The sculpture consists of a 32-inch diameter sphere of cast blue glass with a core visible inside, and a bronze map of Pangea on its surface -- the continents not as we know them today, but as they were a hundred million years ago.
The sculpture's appearance is intended to be reflective of plate tetonics and liquid water, both of which distinguish our home planet from all the others. The imaginative sculpture's base is a cylindrical stainless steel stand inclined at angle of our planet's polar axis. A sealed ball-bearing internal mechanism permits the sphere to be rotated manually in a clockwise direction. Approximate height with the sphere is 4 feet 6 inches, and the base is attached to a concrete footing at the ground. The planet scale model is part of a unique planet orbital disk depicting the Earth's equatorial plane and the scale model planet on the angle of its polar axis. The base supporting the planet scale model is a pre-cast, uniquely finished concrete pedestal, with informational insets and a title plaque in stainless steel, copper or brass, with etched enamel infill. The concrete footings of both the planet scale model and the imaginative sculpture are conconnected by a concrete arc walkway, with brass inset directional arrows, and the planet name. Ten "Great Question" plaques surround the site, set at ground level.
The detail at right illustrates how the scale planet model appears on a metal surface incllined to represent the planet's equatorial tilt. Since the Earth's tilt is about 23.5 degrees from the orbital plane, the metal plate holding the scale model, a "bump" only about half an inch in diameter, is incllined 23.5 degrees from level. The tiny size of the scale model planet is of course the correct scale size of Earth in relation to the 5-foot Sun over 500 feet away. This model and its metal plane rest atop a concrete pedestal with information and name plaques. Also present on the pedestal is a unique souveneir rub-transfer icon which may be used in school projects and promotional activities to provide evidence of visit.
NEXT: VISIT THE PLANET MARS SITE
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