Monumental New Sculpture by Luke Jerram

On 3 March 2026, Mirror Moon by multi-disciplinary British artist Luke Jerram will go 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 will be displayed in the Meridian Courtyard, beside the Prime Meridian. This installation will therefore bring 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.’ 

 

Information for visitors: 

Venue: Royal Observatory Greenwich 

Dates: From 3 March 2026 

Tickets: Included in admission to the Royal Observatory: Adults £24 | Child £12 | Concessions available 

Website: rmg.co.uk/mirrormoon 

Visitor Enquiries: 020 8858 4422 | bookings@rmg.co.uk 

 

Notes to editors:  

1. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian and one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world. Since its founding in 1675, Greenwich has been at the centre of the measurement of time and space, and visitors today can still stand on the historic Prime Meridian line. The Observatory galleries help unravel the extraordinary phenomena of time, space and astronomy.  
    

2. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the National Maritime Museum, the 17th-century Queen’s House and the famous clipper ship Cutty Sark. This unique collection of museums and heritage buildings form a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a major centre of education and research. The mission of Royal Museums Greenwich is to enrich people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain's role in world history. For more information, visit www.rmg.co.uk. 

    

3. Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, 
   installations and live art projects. Living in the UK but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have 
   excited and inspired people around the world. Since his career began Luke Jerram has had over 900 exhibitions around the world.  

   As well as his touring installations and permanent sculptures, Luke’s artworks are in over 80 permanent collections around the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Shanghai Museum of Glass and the Wellcome Collection in London.   
   
   Luke Jerram was given honorary doctorates from the University of Bristol in 2020 and University of Gloucestershire in 2022. He was made an Honorary Academician of the RWA and Fellow of The Royal Astronomical Society in 2020.  

www.lukejerram.com  

 

For more information or to request press images please contact:
Royal Museums Greenwich Press Office
press@rmg.co.uk | 020 8312 6790