Want to meet an astronaut?
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is excited to announce that European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut Meganne Christian will this month be delivering a public talk on humanity's return to the Moon.
With NASA's Artemis II just around the corner, families are invited to join us during February half-term to hear Meganne explore what the mission means for the UK's next generation of aspiring astronauts, who could one day be living and working on the Moon.
What will humans be doing on Gateway, the proposed lunar space station? How will they survive for long periods on the surface? And what could a base on the Moon look like?
Find out at the free talk 'Back to the Moon', being hosted by the RAS at Burlington House in London on Friday 20 February.
It will take place from 2pm, followed by a Q&A where the audience will get to grill Meganne about whatever they like, such as how she was chosen as a reserve astronaut, what NASA's mega Moon rocket SLS looks like up close and why going back to the Moon is so important.
As an added bonus, there will also be a chance to climb aboard a mobile observatory known as 'Moon Palace', which will be stationed outside our Burlington House courtyard from 20-21 February.
This converted school bus sports a mesmerising array of colourful nebulae on its exterior, while inside it is equipped with a powerful optical telescope for stargazing at planets, distant stars and galaxies, plus a rooftop radio telescope which allows visitors to listen to sounds of the universe.
It also features a lunar map on board, plenty of sculptures and artwork of planets and stars, cosy blankets to keep warm and "cosmic tea" served in mugs resembling an alien head.
To book a FREE ticket for Back to the Moon, click here. No booking is required for the Moon Palace, just turn up and hop on.
Further information
About Meganne Christian
In November 2022, Meganne was selected from a pool of over 22,500 applicants across Europe to be one of the 17 members of ESA's first astronaut class in 13 years.
She is also Senior Exploration Manager (Commercial) at the UK Space Agency, advising on human and robotic spaceflight in the post-International Space Station landscape.
About the Moon Palace
Moon Palace is an artwork and working mobile observatory by artists Heather Peak and Ivan Morison. Co-produced by East Leeds Project and LEEDS 2023 and commissioned by Foxglove and LEEDS 2023 for Smeaton300. Developed in partnership with the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds.