This exquisitely detailed orrery (model of the solar system) is meant to illustrate the conception of the universe described by Johannes Kepler in 1596. Kepler believed that the orbits of the six known planets of the time were related to each other by the "Platonic Solids" -- five geometrically regular 3-D shapes.
The orrery is completely interactive with a functional control panel allowing the observer to adjust and inspect all aspects of the display. Although not perfectly to scale, many important relationships have been captured (planetary size, relative orbit distance, planetary spin, orbital distance). The planet textures are actual photographs of the surfaces of the planet, designed to be mapped seamlessly to spheres. The inner planets are tiny prims which are smaller than the usual SL minimum.
The Platonic Solids are all carefully constructed sculpt maps (also available on SLExchange: Platonic Solid Sculpt Maps) that are crisp and well defined at multiple levels of detail. The orrery also extensively uses inverted sculpt maps so that nested objects can be easily viewed from every angle.
Whether decorative or informative, it's sure to draw interest in any lab or parlour. See it in world at Sautereau Meadow
See item in Second Life
