The Royal Astronomical Society has teamed up with Jodrell Bank to invite the public to step into a tapestry of scientific discoveries with the Society's Bicentennial Quilt at its heart.
'A Stitch in Space Time', a brand-new summer exhibition from Jodrell, will be taking place between 17 May and 29 June 2025 in the Space Pavilion, with tickets included in general admission.
Visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cheshire – home to the UK's largest radio telescope – can explore the cosmic threads that tie us together and celebrate the connections to the wonders of the cosmos through creativity and craft.
Displayed against the stunning backdrop of the Grade I listed Lovell Telescope, Jodrell will open its doors to the RAS Bicentennial Quilt, an inspiring community project launched in 2020 that weaves together 200 years of discovery across the Solar System.
Plus, in a historic first, the quilt will be displayed alongside its companion piece for the very first time: a homage to astronomer Ellen Baker's spectacular 1876 Solar System quilt, which she used as a visual aid when giving astronomy lectures.
The exhibition will also feature fascinating pieces from innovative spacewear and textiles artist, Anurita Chandola.
Pieces on display will include personalised Martian spacesuits for her children that blend the infinite possibilities of space travel with sustainability and ancestral narratives, and a one-of-a-kind occasion dress made from the same parachute fabric that transported NASA's Perseverance Rover to Mars – developed in the UK by Heathcoat Fabrics.
The public can channel their own cosmic creativity and engage with the themes of the exhibition in a packed programme of related workshops and drop-in sessions.
These include a 'Design Your Martian Spacesuit Patch' workshop for children with Anurita Chandola (from £12.50), a 'Create a Constellation' embroidery drop-in session (free), and 'Cosmic Threads' (£45) – a day long workshop that brings together the magic of mixed media textiles and the mysteries of the cosmos, led by acclaimed textile artist Anne Kelly.
Dr Sian Prosser, Librarian and Archivist at the Royal Astronomical Society, said: "We are delighted to partner with the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement to showcase this unique and symbolic partnering of quilts, created as part of our 200th anniversary celebrations.
"This exhibition offers the public a rare opportunity to engage with these handcrafted artworks, each telling a story of discovery, wonder, and our shared journey through the cosmos. By displaying them in the iconic home of radio astronomy, we are bridging the art of storytelling with the science that has transformed our understanding of the universe."
Professor Teresa Anderson, Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, said: "We are thrilled to showcase these pieces at Jodrell Bank and look forward to welcoming the public to explore the intersection of art and science through this exhibition."
To find out more, visit: https://www.jodrellbank.net/events/a-stitch-in-space-time-exhibition/
ENDS
Media contacts
Sam Tonkin
Royal Astronomical Society
Mob: +44 (0)7802 877 700
Holly Westwood
Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement
holly.westwood@manchester.ac.uk
Images and captions
Caption: A section of the RAS Bicentennial Quilt.
Credit: Royal Astronomical Society
Caption: The RAS Bicentennial Quilt will be displayed alongside its companion piece for the very first time (pictured): a homage to astronomer Ellen Baker’s spectacular 1876 Solar System quilt.
Credit: Royal Astronomical Society
Caption: A patch from the RAS Bicentennial Quilt, depicting the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank.
Credit: Royal Astronomical Society
Caption: A photo of two children in personalised hand-crafted Martian spacesuits, which will be on display.
Credit: Anurita Chandola
Notes for editors
About the Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science.
The RAS organises scientific meetings, publishes international research and review journals, recognises outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, maintains an extensive library, supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. Its more than 4,000 members (Fellows), a third based overseas, include scientific researchers in universities, observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others.
The RAS accepts papers for its journals based on the principle of peer review, in which fellow experts on the editorial boards accept the paper as worth considering. The Society issues press releases based on a similar principle, but the organisations and scientists concerned have overall responsibility for their content.
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About Jodrell Bank
Founded in 1945, Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement is committed to inspiring curiosity about science and the cosmos through creative projects, exhibitions, and events. Jodrell Bank is home to the world-famous, Grade I listed Lovell Telescope, a pivotal site in the development of radio astronomy, and is proudly owned by The University of Manchester. Jodrell Bank was inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage Site list in 2019 in recognition of its internationally significance science, heritage and cultural impact.