Reduced to a scale of 1:495 million, we find ourselves at the Mars station of the Planetenwanderweg. This path is more than just a walk. It is a sensory journey through our solar system. It shrinks immense cosmic distances. It makes the planets visible from Earth comprehensible.
The Planetenwanderweg in Kassel begins at the Orangerie. The sun is marked above its glass entrance. As we leave the sun behind, we encounter Mercury. Venus follows. Both are about the size of hazelnuts. Then comes Earth, roughly the size of a walnut.
Continuing along the axis of Karlsaue, we arrive at Mars. You can find this planet under the oak avenue. It is a humbling experience. We start to grasp the scale of our universe. The Planetenwanderweg invites contemplation.
If we were to follow the laws of physics strictly, we would have to slow down. We couldn’t move faster than light on the Planetenwanderweg. That means no more than 60 cm per second. This is about 2.18 km/h. It is a leisurely stroll. Following a straight path, we would reach Neptune in over four hours. Of course, the path isn’t straight.
The Planetenwanderweg then continues to Jupiter. It is represented by a golden sphere. You can find it on the roof of a small temple. This temple sits on Swan Island in the Aueteich. The journey continues beyond the Karlsaue. Saturn and Uranus are next.
To reach Neptune, you must travel to Guntershausen. It’s along the R1 cycle path. The path was created between 1996 and 2021. The Neptune model was placed there in 2021. The Institute for Physics of the University of Kassel donated it.
The model of Mars here has a diameter of only 13.7 mm. In reality, Mars has a diameter of 6,794 km. Mars is 460 meters away from the sun here on the Planetenwanderweg. In reality, Mars is 227.94 million km away from the sun.
This Planetenwanderweg shows the sizes and distances of the planets. It offers a unique experience. It combines education with a walk in nature. It makes the universe tangible.