Creating a discernable linear graph of Earth’s solar system that includes the three nearest stars is possible but not feasible.
Here’s why:
Defining an AU = 100.0mm. (An “AU” is a standard astronomical unit defining the mean distance of the Earth’s distance from the sun.) Starting with the sun inscribed on the graphing paper as a circle of diameter 0.93mm, the point representing the Earth is 100.0mm distant from the circle representing the sun.
This is a list of the planets with distances from the graph circle representing the sun.
Mercury ---- 39.0 mm
Venus ------ 72.3 mm
Earth ------ 100.0 mm
Mars ------- 152.4 mm
Jupiter ----- 520.3 mm
Saturn ----- 953.9 mm
Uranus --- 1918.0 mm
Neptune --3006.0 mm
Pluto ---- 3953.1 mm
At this point, the graph paper is 4 meters (that’s over 13 feet).
This is a list of the included stars with distances from the graph circle representing the Earth’s sun.
Alpha Centauri --- 27,807,882 mm
Barnard's Star ---- 37,968,455 mm
Wolf 359 --------- 49,332,253 mm
At this point, the graph paper is 50,000 meters or 50 Km (that’s over 31 statute miles).
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From this, it’s apparent that your teacher is attempting to convey to you and the other students that distances to Earth’s nearest stars are vast, even when compared to the size of the Earth’s solar system. Creating a linear graph, where Earth’s solar system is a 1.0mm circle then the graphing paper will need to be over 12.5 meters in length.
Your project is doable using logarithmic graphing paper, and there will be sufficient room to label the planets and the stars. (Note that this is not linear.)
GA