GREENWICH.- Mirror Moon by multi-disciplinary British artist Luke Jerram is on display at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. He is best known for his large-scale public engagement artworks including Museum of the Moon and Earth artwork Gaia, which have been displayed internationally. This new artwork draws on his expertise in combining arts, science and engineering to bring people closer to our closest celestial neighbour.

Acting as a ‘cultural mirror’ to society, the moon has always inspired humanity, reflecting the ideas and beliefs of people around the world. It is a unifying symbol for humanity and has inspired artists, poets, writers and musicians throughout history. Every culture has looked to the Moon, developing their own understandings about its importance and influence on the world below. Mirror Moon reflects Jerram’s interest in this history.

Made of stainless steel and measuring two metres in diameter, this new installation uses accurate topographic data from NASA to map the textures of the Moon onto the mirrored steel surface. The tactile medium allows visitors to run their fingers across the craters, valleys, mountains and smooth lava fields, that we can see from Earth and the heavily cratered surface of the unseen ‘far side’ of the Moon.

For 350 years, astronomers at the Royal Observatory have observed the Moon. The position of our closest celestial neighbour allowed sailors to determine their longitude at sea using the ‘lunar distance method’ developed at the Royal Observatory and still learnt by sailors today. Astronomers at the Royal Observatory continue to observe and photograph the Moon.





The Royal Observatory is home to the Prime Meridian, which was defined as 0° longitude by international agreement in 1884. Mirror Moon is being displayed in the Meridian Courtyard, beside the Prime Meridian. This installation therefore brings together a natural reference point with one decided by people.

Luke Jerram said, ‘For more than two decades, the Royal Observatory Greenwich has been inspiration for my work as an artist and so it’s an absolute privilege to be commissioned to create this new sculpture for the Museum and to be part of its story. I hope Mirror Moon will inspire generations of visitors to have an interest in contemporary science, art and the wonder of the night’s sky.’

Liz Avery, Head of Astronomy at the Royal Observatory said, ‘The Moon has been a source of intrigue and wonder for centuries. We are thrilled to be working with Luke Jerram to unlock some of its mysteries through his Mirror Moon and share them with our visitors.’