Cheadle Moon – 15 Mar to 5 Apr 2024
Cheadle Moon featuring Museum of the Moon
OUTSIDE is working with local groups, organisations and residents to plan Cheadle Moon, a special celebration of the life of pioneering astronomer and selenographer Mary Adela Blagg.
For three weeks around Easter from 15th March 2024 to 5th April 2024, Cheadle will be filled with stardust and moonlight while celebrations take place in churches, schools, shops and streets.
To mark the 80th anniversary of Mary Adela Blagg’s death, Cheadle Moon will tell her inspirational story and celebrate her life. Born in 1858, Mary lived her entire life in Cheadle. Mary’s groundbreaking work mapping the moon saw her become one of the first women admitted into the Royal Astronomical Society. A crater on the moon, Blagg crater, was named after Mary, and in March 2023, a planet was named Maryblagg in her honour. Mary’s grave is in the churchyard of St Giles the Abbot in Cheadle.
Taking centre stage of the celestial celebrations, Museum of the Moon will rise inside St Giles the Abbot. This amazing touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram will be installed in the nave of the church. Measuring six metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:600,000 each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 6km of the moon’s surface. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones.
Admission to Museum of the Moon is free of charge but tickets need to be booked in advance. Opening times and tickets are HERE.
On 18th/19th/20th/22nd March there will be sessions for school visits during school hours. Please email hello@outsidearts.org for a link to book a visit.
For information to help you plan your visit, please read the Cheadle Moon FAQs.
Image: Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Photo (c) James Billings
BOOK MUSEUM OF THE MOON TICKETS HERE
As well as Museum of the Moon, a wide-ranging programme of lunar inspired arts and cultural activities and events is taking place under the moon, including…
Live music & spoken word performances
Stargazing & moonwatch sessions
Film screenings & craft activities
Science & history talks
Family theatre show
Poetry workshops
Yoga sessions
Silent disco
Storytelling
Gong bath
Tickets for all these events are now on sale HERE.
Image: Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Photo (c) Ryan Johnston
BOOK EVENT TICKETS HERECheadle Moon is made possible through a collaboration between OUTSIDE, St Giles the Abbot and the Parish Church Committee, Cheadle Discovery Group, Creative Cheadle and Cheadle Town Council and supported by JCB, Alton Towers, Film Hub Midlands and the Royal Astronomical Society. Cheadle Moon is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Museum of the Moon has been co-commissioned by a number of creative organisations brought together by Luke Jerram and Norfolk & Norwich Festival. These include: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Brighton Festival, Without Walls, Cork Midsummer Festival, We The Curious, Lakes Alive, Provincial Domain Dommelhof, Les Tombées de la Nuit, Rennes and Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The artwork has been created in partnership with the UK Space Agency, University of Bristol and The Association for Science and Discovery Centres.