Such is the scale of the solar system when recreated on the Otago Central Rail Trail in an ''interplanetary cycleway'' that is having its first visitors.
The project has seen a 1:100,000,000 scale model of the solar system installed between Alexandra and Ranfurly. Earth's moon and the sun have also been recreated, and orbits of the planets will later be installed between Ranfurly and Middlemarch.
The joint rail trail and Otago Museum project - conceived by Cromwell man Ian Begg - received $24,000 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's ''Unlocking Curious Minds'' scheme.
The resulting solar system allowed people to ''contemplate the immensity of space'' as they travelled the rail trail, with some staggering scientific statistics, rail trail chairwoman Kate Wilson said.
Each step people take on the rail trail was the same as travelling 75,000km through the solar system, and each revolution of their bike wheel would propel them more than 200,000km.
Rail trail operators and local schools embraced the project, and workshops held with local school children helped them comprehend space and time, Ms Wilson said.
As well as presenting a range of scientific concepts in an engaging way, the project would also focus visitors on the ''amazing night-time landscape the area offered'', she said.
At this stage the planets - installed last week - were being treated as a pilot, but if the project was well received planets would also be installed on the eastern orbits of the trail, from Ranfurly to Middlemarch, Ms Wilson said.
A more permanent sun model is being brainstormed to replace the temporary rope and warratah structure riders cycle through in Ranfurly.
