Dear Jay
I assume no-ones posted and you're languishing because it's not seen as a physics essay. I wholly disagree. In fact the essay subject doesn't mention physics anyway!
But what is more it works on many levels. The misunderstanding of the solar system is about poor teaching of nature and conceptualisation. I think it goes way beyond the examples you give. It certainly gets a good score from me.
You may find this interesting. I explained to some 12 year olds how light takes a certain time to traverse a block of ice on the floor, because it does a certain speed in ice. (as n = say 1.3). I than asked how long it would take if the ice was sliding towards the light source. The away from it, then if the light source was sliding towards and away from the block, then if they themselves were sliding up and down. After a little thought they all got it correct. They then also understood that to validly measure it they had to be moving with the block.
I've found that if we ask 30 physics teachers and professors, over 90% would get it wrong. It's not understood that the problem between Relativity and QM is rooted in that fact.
I do hope you'll read my essay, understand the concept (plasma is a refractor as is ice), and remember to give it a community score. I hope yours also gets noticed in the right places. I know the problem!
Best wishes
Peter Jackson