On Saturday the Mayor of Taunton and the deputy leader of the Town Council unveiled the first plinth in a new long term project for the society. Along the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal lies the Somerset Space Walk: a scale model of our solar system.
On Saturday 9th December 2023 the most famous comet in the solar system, Halley’s Comet, reached aphelion (the point where it is furthest away from the sun). The Society’s aim is to indicate within the scale model of the Solar System whereabouts Halley’s Comet is located each year on its long journey back to the inner solar system. It takes 76 years for the comet to orbit the sun, so it is expected back in our skies in 2061.
The location of the comet will be marked with posts incorporating QR codes with details of how to find out more about this celestial beauty.
So next time you’re out for a walk, why not start on the canal by The Brewhouse. Here you can locate Pluto. From there, walking towards Bridgwater you will discover the new plinth before you reach Neptune. A precise location can be found here.
More information can be found at the Somerset County Gazette.
