Final answer:
Using scale models is beneficial for visualizing the vast distances in our solar system; by reducing sizes proportionately, we can understand the enormous space between heavenly bodies like the sun, Earth, and other planets.
Step-by-step explanation:
To visualize the solar system on a scale that can be more easily understood, we might use analogies or scaled-down models. For instance, if we make the sun equivalent to a grain of sand, then the planets would be like tiny specks of dust scattered around a room. At this scale, the Earth could be about 10 cm away from the sun, and the next closest star would be a vast 30 km distant, emphasizing the enormity of space even between neighboring stars. To bring the concept closer to home, consider that on a scale where the entire solar system is reduced by a factor of 10 billion, Earth would have a diameter of 1.3 centimeters, similar to a grape, and the Moon would resemble a pea at a distance of about 40 centimeters away, which could fit inside a backpack.
Creating such scale models is essential in astronomy, as it translates immense astronomical distances into more tangible terms like the distance from the sun to Saturn becoming a manageable size. This aids in understanding the vastness of our solar system, as well as the entire universe, where galaxies can be perceived as coins spaced meters apart and the visible edge of the universe is only 1.5 km away.