World's Largest Scale Solar System Model in Kent Village
A village in Kent is home to what is believed to be the world's largest scale model of the solar system and beyond, created to help people grasp the vastness of space.
The model is distributed across Otford, near Sevenoaks, with representations of the Sun and planets positioned throughout the parish and extending into nearby woodland.
Project Vision and Design
Simon Featherstone, co-chair of the Otford Society, explained that the project was intended to enable visitors to
"visualise the sheer vastness of our solar system".
Each planet is marked by a specific indicator, with the Sun located centrally on the recreation ground and Pluto placed approximately a mile away, accurately reflecting distances on a precise scale.
The concept was initially proposed as a millennium project by local resident David Thomas, a retired teacher and amateur astronomer who aimed to create an inspiring educational installation.
Featherstone told Secret Kent about Thomas's meticulous efforts, stating
"The idea was to put the planets in the exact positions that they were at the turn of the millennium. and so every planet had to be in exactly the right place in its orbit,"highlighting the precision involved in the placement.
Material Durability and Technological Enhancements
The project team consulted with industry bodies to select materials designed for longevity. Thomas reached out to the Cement Federation requesting a mix
"that would last a thousand years", while stainless steel was chosen for certain components following discussions with the Steel Federation.
The model has continued to develop, now featuring QR codes that allow visitors to access videos and detailed information about each planet via their smartphones.
Support from NASA and Global Reach
Rod Shelton, president of the Otford Society, acknowledged NASA's valuable support in bringing the project to fruition.
"They were wonderful. They were so helpful,"Shelton said, noting that NASA permitted the use of their materials, granting access to
"the world's finest pictures".
The scale of the model extends beyond the village, with representations of stars located as far away as Los Angeles, Australia, and New Zealand.
The closest star, Proxima Centauri, is marked at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to accurately represent its true distance from Earth.
Local Roots and Community Significance
Despite its international connections, the organisers emphasize that the project remains deeply rooted in the local community.
Shelton described Otford as
"a very special village", underscoring the community pride in hosting this unique educational model.
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