Life Science Centre is open on weekends only until Saturday 23 October, and then we're back open 7 days. Tickets for timed slots can be purchased online in advance of your visit. Some slots on the afternoon will be kept free for walk-ups - but booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Our safety measures remain in place. This includes the Life team and visitors being asked to wear a face covering unless exempt.
Key info...
Set aside: 10 minutes
Who is it perfect for:
Everyone
Wonder at Gaia - a mesmerising, seven-metre-diameter recreation of Planet Earth.
Created by UK artist, Luke Jerram, the exhibition uses detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface to provide a unique opportunity to view our planet floating in three dimensions.
The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth’s surface. By standing 211m away from the artwork, visitors will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.
The installation aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.
Visitors can view Gaia by standing, sitting, or walking underneath it, and from different angles in the science centre. We also have a viewing platform on upper floor where visitors can enjoy a totally different view of the Earth.
There’s lots to look at on Earth – during your visit see if you can find all the continents, countries you’ve been to or where we are.
