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The Sun(sphere)'s Belt LbNA #30652

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 5, 2007
Location:
City:Knoxville
County:Knox
State:Tennessee
Boxes:1
Planted by:Moon and Sun
Found by: NanniPapawTo4
Last found:Feb 28, 2008
Status:FF
Last edited:May 5, 2007
Here is your best chance to look back at the inner solar system before you get to Jupiter, but you’ll have to be Sharp to find this Ridge. The Ridge has a pleasant view of the Sunsphere, which will appear the size that the Sun would appear if you were able to view it from the surface of an asteroid named Vesta. The real Vesta is located in the asteroid belt and orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis (Half of the longest diameter of an elliptical orbit) of 199,948,114.2 miles. If the Solar System were scale such that the Sun was the same size as the Sunsphere, the semi-major axis of Vesta’s orbit would shrink to a mere 3.24 miles.

Use your petroleum or ethanol powered transportation system to head to the northern part of Knoxville. On the Broad way you’ll see a sign pointing toward the Ridge that Vesta’s orbit would pass through if the Solar System were scaled down and centered on the Sunsphere.

Follow the sign. You will go up a curvy path. Keep the concrete posts to your left and follow them up and up. If large towers are often in front of you, you are on the Trail. Park at the first observation deck on your left. It will be grey and you will be able to look out over Downtown Knoxville to see an asteroid's-eye view of the Sun(sphere). WBIR’s towers will be directly across the road.

Find J. B. Owen, a prominent Knoxville journalist and birder. Look to his starboard side under “the first tree that's in the greenwood” to find Vesta.

WARNING the graffiti on the overlook is a bit racy. I have contacted the city about painting it, but in the mean time, if you bring a child up with you or you are offended by politics or profanity, keep your distance from the main overlook sign and stick with J. B. Owen.