MAN’S first step on the moon is being celebrated in Warwick this summer.
Warwickshire County Council’s museum service is marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a special summer exhibition dedicated to all things space exploration at Market Hall Museum.
On July 20, 1969, the world held its breath as Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon.
The museum team has been busy preparing for the exhibition – which will include genuine moon rock, photos signed by the Apollo astronauts, and model spacecraft – and a series of events for children to enjoy and learn more about space and the moon landings.
These events will include a question and answer session with Dr Susie Imber, the winner of BBC2’s Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?, and Mad Science will also be running two workshops, including making own alien slime.
An upstairs gallery is being turned into a solar system which residents are invited to fill with planets, moons and spacecraft, youngsters – allowing youngsters to then lie back and watch everything orbit the sun.
There will also be events for adults, including a talk on the moon and space travel in science-fiction with associate professor Elizabeth Stanway from the University of Warwick’s Astronomy and Astrophysics group.
County culture spokesman Heather Timms said: “This really is a fantastic exhibition that marks one of humankind’s greatest achievements. In addition to memorabilia, the exhibition also looks at spaceflight technology and how it has affected and influenced our everyday lives, past and present.
“One of the star attractions of this exhibition is a selection of real moon rock samples brought back by the Apollo astronauts – evidence for the ancient history of our nearest neighbour in space, which the museum is thrilled to have acquired on loan.”
Visit heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum-service for further details.
* Warwickshire libraries are calling children to sign up to read six books this summer as part of Space Chase, Summer Reading Challenge 2019.
It is urging four to 11-year-olds to borrow and read any six library books over the summer inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.
Space Chase runs from July 13 to September 6.
Visit warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries to find out how to take part.