What's big and round and blue all over?

Franklin — An 80-pound, 19 foot tall inflatable globe was on display at the Littell Center last week and visitors learned that there are times when the world may be flat — at least on the bottom if they are to have a chance to step inside and look around. The globe was set up by Tom Barry, who travels the tri-state area offering an educational program. This one was sponsored by the Franklin/Hardyston Recreation Department. Inflating the giant globe with a fan, Barry says he’s able to set it up himself for shows that give audiences an up-close and personal view of the world. Detailed images of the land and ice masses are printed onto the globe’s 24 separate panels and sewn together to create the spherical shape. The 24 panels conveniently mark the 24 time zones around the world. “Antarctica is printed on a thicker panel that forms the floor of the globe,” said Barry. The thicker material is needed to prevent excessive wear when visitors enter the sphere for part of the presentation. Barry, who studied elementary education with a concentration on math and science at the State University of New York Geneseo, uses a laser to point out interesting features of the planet. The program is divided between time outside and inside the globe. — Story and photos by John Church

To get an idea of the scale of the earth and the universe:
1 inch on the inflatable globe equals 30 miles
Atmosphere is 2 inches thick
The space shuttle flies 6 inches above the globe
The moon is 6 feet in diameter and 200 yards away
The sun is 2,000 feet in diameter and 50 miles away
Pluto is 4 feet in diameter and 2,000 miles away