Our Moon exhibition lands at Waikato Museum this weekend

15 March 2022

Prepare for a close encounter! An out-of-this-world exhibition is launching at Hamilton’s Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato on Saturday 19 March 2022 with the opening of Our Moon: Then, Now & Beyond.

This free exhibition explores humankind’s relationship with the Moon from perspectives of the past, present, and future. Its spectacular centrepiece is a giant four-metre diameter orb made by British artist Luke Jerram, glowing with high-definition NASA lunar surface imagery.

You can also take a whiff of the Moon at a scent station, role play the launch of a rocket at the NASA mission control desk, and experience the historic achievement of the first Moon landing in our retro 1960s  lounge – complete with shag carpet!

Aspiring rocket-scientists will be inspired by New Zealand’s rapidly growing rocket launch business: Rocket Lab. They can also engage with a mechanical interactive which demonstrates the Moon's orbit around Earth, have a go with the ‘build your own’ lunar habitation, and be transported between exhibition areas with Christchurch artist Hannah Beehre's Tunnel – a crystal-encrusted velvet wormhole.

Others will be enthralled by the interactive display of daily maramataka (Maaori lunar calendar) and captivated by the intensity of the Moon’s influence on our world. Or you can just sit back and soak up the soothing moonbeams of this rich and fascinating exhibition.

Our Moon: Then, Now & Beyond is on tour from the Nelson Provincial Museum and presented in partnership with Rātā Foundation, Cawthron Institute and the Embassy of the USA.

 “This exhibition has been devised to have something that will connect at some level with everyone in the community,” says Nelson Provincial Museum CEO Lucinda Blackley-Jimson.

“It’s a pleasure to have Waikato Museum host Our Moon and share the experience even more widely.”

Liz Cotton, Director Museum & Arts at Waikato Museum says:

“Our Moon: Then, Now & Beyond is unique in its use of art as a way of making science approachable and it really has something for everyone. This major exhibition tells a multi-faceted story and will provide our visitors with inspiration, information and lots of fun.”

Our Moon will be beaming down on Hamilton from Saturday 19 March 2022. Open daily 10am to 5pm, free entry.

Image credit: John Paul Pochin, Light Ltd © Nelson Provincial Museum