Film nights, silent discos and evening openings — what’s still to come at Chester Cathedral’s giant moon installation
A six-metre sculpture of the moon made from detailed NASA imagery is on show inside Chester Cathedral until Sunday, March 15.
Museum of the Moon, by artist Luke Jerram, is free to visit during normal cathedral opening hours, though a £5 donation is suggested.
The artwork uses 120dpi NASA photographs of the lunar surface at a scale of roughly 1:500,000, meaning each centimetre represents 5km of the moon’s surface.
It is internally lit and accompanied during evening openings by a surround sound composition from BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones.
Several ticketed and free events are still scheduled before the installation closes.
Evening openings
The cathedral will open after dark on Thursday, February 26, Friday, February 27, Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, with entry from 6.30pm in bookable 30-minute slots.
Last entry is 8pm.
These are a different experience to the daytime view, with the moon lit in a darkened cathedral and the soundtrack playing throughout.
Monday Midday Mindfulness
On Monday, March 2 and Monday, March 9, there will be around 20 minutes of silent reflection under the moon at midday.
Open to all, no booking required.
Sing Loud family silent disco
On Saturday, March 7, a family silent disco will take place under the moon at 1pm and 5.30pm.
This is a ticketed event.
From midday onwards on that day, there will be no general access to the moon.
Moon Talk — Faith 2 Faith conversation
On Thursday, March 12 at 11am, Dean Tim Stratford and Imam Zeryab Elhassan will discuss the significance of the moon in Christian and Muslim traditions during Lent and Ramadan.
This is a free event hosted with the University of Chester Chaplaincy Team.
Movies Under the Moon
On Saturday, March 14, Chester’s Picturehouse cinema is screening two films inside the cathedral beneath the installation.
The matinee at 1pm is Muppets in Space.
The evening screening at 6.30pm is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Both are ticketed.
General access under the moon will not be available from midday to 3pm and from 5pm onwards on that day, though visitors will still be able to see it from the nave.
Moon Explorers Trail
A city-wide treasure hunt running until March 15 sends visitors to 12 locations across Chester to find hidden moons and collect letters that spell a phrase.
Participating businesses include Picturehouse Chester, Louison, Lucy and Yak, Little Yellow Pig, Sick to Death, Jo Jo Maman Bébé, Pars Kahve, Harriet and Dee, The Flower Cup and the Visitor Information Centre.
Completed trail sheets can be handed in at the cathedral or the Visitor Information Centre for a chance to win a family cinema ticket.
The trail is free.
Access restrictions
The moon is not accessible during Sunday morning services or during the weekly organ recitals on Thursdays from 1.10pm to 2pm, though visitors are welcome to attend both.
On Saturday, March 7 from midday, access is restricted for the silent disco.
On Saturday, March 14, access is restricted from midday to 3pm and from 5pm for film screenings.
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