Melbourne Solar System Trail

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Posted 2012-03-21 by Julie Mundy ⇒ follow

Ever felt the desire to visit the moon? Jupiter? Beyond? Does the idea of deep space appeal? Thanks to a wonderful collaboration of artists, scientists and Port Phillip Council, the Bayside Solar Trail allows you to actually walk there!

Back in 2005, a temporary exhibition of a 1:1 billion scale model of the Solar System, was installed along the Port Phillip foreshore path. It proved so popular with both residents and visitors, that the exhibition was made into a permanent installation.

Today, you can start with the centre of the solar system - the sun - which is on the foreshore path just near St Kilda Marina, Marina Reserve, St Kilda, and walk, skate or cycle off towards the Westgate Bridge, looking out for the various planets spaced along the way. 5.9km later (or 5.9 billion kilometres later, depending on how tired you are feeling), keep a sharp eye out for the tiny pimple of Pluto beside Sandridge Beach in Port Melbourne. Impress the kids by reminding them that every centimetre they have walked represents 10,000 kilometres.

Port Phillip Council produce a fantastic free self-guided brochure for the walk, which has lots of fascinating facts and information to turn this sea-side walk into a major educational adventure. It can be downloaded from their website . By the end of the walk, not only will you be refreshed by the seaside exercise, but your brain may well come out larger than when you started.