Westfield’s Solar System Walk: A Stellar Attraction Born From Local Ingenuity

In the heart of Westfield, a novel attraction has emerged, born from the ingenuity of the Westfield High School Astronomy Club. Spearheaded by Krystyna Goulette and Kaitlyn Goulette, the club’s president, a solar system walk has been meticulously crafted along the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. This engaging project, made possible through the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including Westfield Bank and the Department of Public Works, has successfully condensed the vast expanse of our solar system into a one-mile stretch, with each foot representing a staggering 530,000 miles in space.

As visitors embark on this journey, they are immediately immersed in a scaled-down representation of our celestial neighborhood. Beginning at the CGRT entrance at Stop & Shop, the walk takes participants on an informative tour of the planets, starting with Mercury, which, despite being a mere 36 million miles from the sun, — elusive to the naked eye due to its proximity and relatively small size, comparable to that of the moon.

Interestingly, a day on Mercury is equivalent to 59 Earth days, while its year consists of 88 Earth days. The walk continues, with each planet’s unique characteristics and fascinating facts presented through permanent signs, courtesy of Westfield Bank.