Heaven on Earth

Get up close to our stars and planets on a stroll through the town.

Planet trail & observatory

The planet trail with the observatory as its destination is a walk-through model of our solar system on a smaller scale. Walkers cover "galactic" distances here, with one step corresponding to a distance of 2.8 million km.

The approximately 2 km long path runs from the observation tower in Goldsteinpark across the town to the observatory on the Johannisberg and represents the distance from the sun to Pluto. The path makes the dimension of our cosmic home “experienceable”, or rather, walkable. Observers, young and old, can vividly grasp the sizes and distances of the celestial bodies at a glance.

The trail brings together scientific and artistic elements: sculptures along the route symbolise our solar system's planets. With the materials and shapes used, the creator of the works of art, Fulda sculptor Rainer Landgraf, emphasises the astronomical and mythological backgrounds of the celestial bodies. Thus, along the route, you encounter Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and the like, along with corresponding images of the Greek gods.

Historical observatory

At the end of the trail, the historic observatory on the Johannisberg awaits you. It is located in a former bell tower that was part of a mountain church in the 11th century. There was also a chapel of the dead, cemetery, rectory, bell-ringer's house and a barn at the site.

The tower platform has housed the observatory since 1965 and is run by the Volkssternwarte Wetterau e. V. (public observatory association). On clear nights, you can peek at distant galaxies through different telescopes.

Visiting the observatory

Those interested can usually visit the observatory every Tuesday from 8 p.m. and observe the celestial bodies under expert guidance. Applications can be made to the Volkssternwarte Wetterau association.

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© Anja Epkes

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