New Delhi:
If you are a travel freak and want to witness a mind-boggling site in the heart of national capital then this is the right time to start packing your bags.
Yes! A 23-foot-wide replica of the Moon, which was unveiled at Mumbai's Gateway of India on February 4, is now knocking at the doors of Delhiites. The 'out of the ordinary' visual treat titled 'Museum of the Moon' is stationed at British Council building on February 24 and will be on display till March 2.
The replica is half million times smaller than the real celestial body.
British artist Luke Jerram is the gem behind such a historical creation and the replica has been created using imagery from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera.
Apart from Gateway of India, the artwork has been exhibited at City Palace, Udaipur; and Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, before its final stopover at the British Council in Delhi.
Millions of people including children gathered at Kolkata's Victoria Memorial lawns and City Palace of Udaipur to catch a glance of the same.
#MuseumOfTheMoon has arrived with @inBritish to Kalkutta , India. https://t.co/J16G5mNEZe pic.twitter.com/lfkD1Uzmq1
— Luke Jerram (@lukejerram) February 17, 2018
We're delighted to bring the moon - a symbol of love - to the beautiful city of lakes - Udaipur!
— British Council India (@inBritish) February 14, 2018
The palace will be open till 10 p.m. tonight. Don't miss it!#MuseumoftheMoon #ValentinesDay #InspiredByIndia #70years pic.twitter.com/sFdxemEmNU
The British Council has brought ‘Museum of the Moon’ to mark the last phase of the U.K.-India Year of Culture and to launch 70 years of the British Council in India. Alongside a unique visual spectacle, Museum of the Moon has music from award-winning British composer Dan Jones.
Also Read: NASA Lunar missions discover widespread water across Moon's surface
The principal reason behind this beautiful creation is to give audiences a feel of earth’s only satellite, where man first landed successfully on July 20, 1969.
#MuseumOfTheMoon arrived at the BritishCouncil in Delhi alongside facade mural by #HowardHodgkin. It will be moved to their courtyard soon. pic.twitter.com/c3JDMQfP3Y
— Luke Jerram (@lukejerram) February 22, 2018
Meanwhile, the replica comes a year before the golden jubilee of the historic moon landing accomplished by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin.
"For eons, the moon has impacted society and culture, it's been worshipped as a deity, used as a timekeeper, inspired artists, poets, scientists, writers and musicians worldwide," earlier IANS Jerram.
He said before gas lamps and electricity, the moon was the only source of light at night, plus it was used for navigation, but living in cities now illuminated heavily by electricity, “we have become disconnected to the moon.”
"I hope this project restores a sense of wonder, inspires questions and reconnects people with the night sky," Jerram said of the project supported by the Maharashtra Government.
Also Read | Chandra Grahan 2018: India witnesses Blue Moon, is your zodiac sign affected by the lunar phenomenon?
The Museum of the Moon is also expected to feature different space-themed lectures on topics like Women in Space, Life Beyond Earth: Prospects and Possibilities, Going Back to the Moon and Landing on a Comet and many others.
Performance beneath the #MuseumOfTheMoon in Kalcutta, India at Victoria Memorial Building pic.twitter.com/2wLlxpaTFg
— Luke Jerram (@lukejerram) February 17, 2018
Top British scientists including Prof. Monica Gardy, Professor of Planetary and Space Science, Open University will take part in some of those amazing lectures of the Museum.
