Forget NASA: Explore space in your hometown

 

When I first explored the Gainesville Square, I saw a funny-looking silver ball. A placard said it was the Sun. I didn't think much of it until my boyfriend took an astronomy class six years later.

 

I went with him one Sunday to walk the solar system and it was actually quite fun, considering we were hoofing through Gainesville looking for planets. If you've never walked the solar system, you'd think we were crazy, or you'd think I was crazy for implying you could walk the solar system. But you can! Here in Gainesville!

 

The solar system is, of course, actually a scale model, donated by the North Georgia Astronomy Club. The walking tour is a full 1.8 miles from the Sun to Pluto. Each planet was sponsored by different groups, and the granite markers were made by Elberton's own Ameristone. Pieces of the monument began being put in place in 1998, and the full tour was completed by 2001, according to the Club's webpage. I used their webpage to get most of the information about this family-friendly activity.

 

Let's walk and talk, shall we?

 

The path begins in the Gainesville Square, continues through Rock Creek Veteran's Park and Greenway, Ivey Terrace Park, Wilshire Trails, and ends up near Longwood Park. It's also a great way to get a feel for and explore the greenways of Gainesville.

 

The Sun is a big, silver ball (actually made out of stainless steel) on a pedestal on the Gainesville Square at the corners of Spring and Bradford Streets. It is very shiny and reflective, and personally, I think it draws the most attention out of all the models. As such, a large number of community members and businesses and schools, including Lakeview Academy, sponsored the Sun monument.

 

Blink and you'll miss Mercury. To scale, it's as tiny as a pinpoint! It's located in the Circle on the Square, to Old Joe's left, and was the first planet sponsored - by the Elachee Nature Center.

 

Venus stands close by, on Old Joe's right, in the Circle in the Square. Fittingly, Venus, the only planet named after a goddess, was sponsored by the former Brenau Academy.

 

The Earth and Moon is our first double monument. It's at the corners of Main and Washington Streets, near Rahab's Rope and overlooking Dress Up Boutique. Another popular choice, the Earth and Moon monument had over 109 donors.aand Washington Streets

 

A short ways away is Mars, which is right next to Dress Up Boutique on Washington Street. Riverside Military Academy sponsored this planet, also fitting, as Mars is the God of War.

 

The Asteroid Belt is tucked by the side of the Gainesville Branch of the Hall County Library - its sponsor. It's on the side nearest the Square and the Library sign. The first time I walked the solar system I actually walked all the way around the Library like a herp derp trying to find it. Fun fact: The largest asteroid, Ceres, is the smallest object depicted in the Scale Model - only 18 thousands of an inch in diameter.

 

You'll need to take advantage of that crosswalk across from the library to find Jupiter. It's hard to miss though, as it's a quadruple monument, featuring the planet and three of its moons, right at the entrance to Rock Creek Veteran's Park on West Academy Street. It was sponsored by Hall County Elementary Schools.

 

Enjoy the walk until you get to Saturn, tucked away on the Ivey Terrace under some shady trees. It was sponsored by Hall County Middle Schools. I've heard a rumor that Saturn and its placards are the most stolen pieces out of the whole walk. If you're one of those people, cut it out. Real explorers do not take things from their adventures, and frankly, you're ruining it for people. Just because it's cool-looking doesn't mean you have to have it. Take a picture. I've seen it both with and without Saturn, and I can definitely say it looks much better with Saturn where it belongs.

 

 

Another double monument coming up at the entrance of Longwood Park is Neptune and its moon, Triton. It's near The Rock (more on that later in this series!) at the entrance of Longwood Park on Pearl Nix Parkway. 

 

While Pluto is technically a dwarf planet now, it'll always be a real planet in my heart. The scale model Pluto is probably the most rewarding planet on the trip because you've now walked almost two miles (and now you do it again!) but you also get the chance to sit on the Time Machine Bench, which will "take" you to the next closest star, Alpha Centuri, which was sponsored by the former Gainesville College (now University of North Georgia's Gainesville campus.) Pluto was sponsored by Gainesville division of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the bench was donated by Ameristone.

 

When you get to Pluto, relish in it! There's a playground and a picnic pavilion nearby. Tweet about it, maybe take a selfie. If you go in a group, take a picture and send it to [email protected] each time you walk the whole thing! Their site only has photos going up through 2004, but wouldn't it be fun to get it rolling again? 

 

Can't get enough star stuff? Check out the observatory at the University of North Georgia's Dahlonega campus. And, check out the North Georgia Astronomer's Club website here, which is where I got all my facts.

 

Be sure to tune in next week, when I head to Helen to check out a the Nachoochee Mound, which is supposedly the final resting place of a Native American princess.

 

Until then, stay curious.