The four-metre replica moon, created by British artist Luke Jerram, is the stunning centrepiece of the Our Moon — Then Now and Beyond exhibition, a flagship event of the New Zealand International Science Festival.
Early this week, a small army of workers set up the huge inflatable moon, printed with high-resolution Nasa imagery depicting the craters and shadows of the moon’s surface in great detail.
Science Festival associate director Andrea Liberatore was impressed by the replica, which was kept inflated by an internal fan.
‘‘This is a fantastic structure, which I think will capture many people’s imaginations,’’ Ms Liberatore said.
The replica moon will glow above a busy programme of events at Hanover Hall, including story-telling, talks, yoga, and two musical performances tonight by Tiny Ruins.
It is also surrounded by the Space Frontiers exhibition, which focuses on a range of topics, from Nasa’s space programme to navigation by ancient Maori mariners.
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