Distance Based Dynamic Mesh Scale

I am trying to dynamically scale a static mesh based on the distance between the player and that object, while both player and sphere change scale opposite to one another. the player is a ship, and the sphere a planet.

i have followed all documentation that describes the process of real-time mesh scaling, but cant figure out how to log the distance so that it can be referenced by the sphere to be sized based on that distance. i am also trying to control the size of the pawn so as the sphere gets bigger the shorter the distance, the pawn gets smaller.