Spring in Space: Jodrell Bank’s extraterrestrial events programme

To commemorate the 50-year anniversary of humankind’s final steps on the moon, Apollo: Remastered presents a small selection of breathtaking digitally enhanced photographs from Apollo 17, the final mission of NASA’s dauntless, world-changing space programme. From our first footprints on the lunar surface to the hauntingly weightless American flag planted in the landscape of a new horizon, the pictures on display contain the most significant moments in human history, rendered in unprecedented detail.

Celebrating the celestial discoveries of 18th century astronomer Caroline Herschel, Lynda Laird’s stirring audiovisual installation comprises 560 photographic glass plates, each featuring stars Herschel noticed were missing from the British Star Catalogue. In bringing these omitted bodies to light, Laird honours the countless women whose contributions to astronomy and physics have been ignored, overlooked and underappreciated throughout history.

An accompanying sound composition acknowledges the comets and nebulae discovered by Herschel in her lifetime. Structured according to their precise charted orbits – and interspersed with words from Herschel’s private journals – Annie Needham and Phil Tomsett’s 8 Comets combines music with spoken word to bring new dimensions to the breadth of her groundbreaking contributions.

Taking place at various points throughout the day, Jodrell Bank’s half-hour Telescope Talks expand on the purpose and function of its staggeringly large Lovell Telescope – the third largest steerable radio telescope in the world – with resident Explainers introducing curious Earthlings to unimaginable frontiers of space exploration.

Suitable for aspiring astronauts of all ages, this short film allows young visitors to witness the pivotal NASA Apollo 11 mission with a 360 planetarium dome display, transporting viewers on a uniquely immersive journey alongside three courageous astronauts as they navigate the heart-stopping challenges of manned space travel on their way to becoming the first people on the Moon.

Led by a team of veteran presenters, Journey Through the Night Sky offers a traditionally majestic guide to the cosmos with a Dome show which uses software to simulate the entire observable universe.

Hosted by the incredible Professor Monica M.Grady, this fascinating lecture explores the role of the microscope in space study, and the stories that ancient meteorites hold in their fragments. Serving as vital records of the solar system, Monica will delve into the roles of these intergalactic pieces of shrapnel and how the microscope can help us better understand the great unknown.