Earth and Mars paths as helixes. Scale: 1 inch = 1 A.U. = 1 year. A helix is made by rolling a flat sheet with diagonal lines on it. The slope of the line is the inverse of the planet's velocity. - Between the Mars and Earth tubes is a Hohmann Nut of height 1.417 years. Gluing a thread onto the Earth helix would make the shaft like a bolt. Cutting a groove into the earth helix on the inner wall of the Hohmann nut and you would have a nut. Which is why I call it a Hohmann nut.

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A close-up of the Hohmann nut showing a black dot at it's apohelion. You want this black dot to coincide with the Mars helix.

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Bottom view of Hohmann nut showing start of trajectory coincides with earth helix.

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The coordinates of the helixes starting at July 30, 2002
came from this website:
http://currentsky.com/planetwatch2.html
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