Of all the planets, stars and satellites that twinkle above the night sky, Earth’s closest neighbour seems to captivate us the most. Waxing or waning, the Moon’s ethereal glow and fascinating phases have inspired and entranced artists, poets, writers, musicians (Swifties, you’ll love this one), scientists and civilians for centuries.
Now you’re invited to explore the importance, impact and future of this enigmatic celestial body with To The Moon, the large-scale exhibition now showing at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Running from Tuesday, 26 March 2024 until Monday 7 October 2024, the exhibition delves into our enduring fascination with the Moon, interweaving lunar art, pop culture, planetary science, historical insights, and the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
There’ll be night sky explorations hosted by renowned astronomy photographer Roger Groom, where guests can head up to the balcony to look through telescopes and capture images, and Curtin University's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Professor Gretchen Benedix will host Meet The Museum on June 20—an exploration of why humans should continue to return to the Moon.
On Friday mornings, drop by for a storytime session in the Origins Gallery at 10:30am—and on May 11, the family-friendly Space Lab event will be filled with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for kids big and small. And on June 21 you’re invited to dress up in your most retro-futuristic attire to celebrate Boorloo's Winter Solstice with an eclectic line-up of artists.
But throughout the multi-form exhibition, it’s the seven separate zones that excite us the most, each as insightful, educational and entertaining as the last. Here’s a glimpse of these seven zones at To The Moon, no telescope required.
'Museum of the Moon'
After popping up at different exhibitions across the globe, it’s celebrated UK artist Luke Jerramoon’s time to shine in Perth. Measuring a huge seven metres in diameter, his mesmerising scale model of the moon is complete with detailed imagery of the lunar surface sourced from NASA itself, displaying its craters and mountains in incredible detail. Despite being about half a million times smaller than the real deal, the Museum of the Moon will have you in awe.
The Eagle Has Landed
For those who weren’t around to witness Armstrong’s first steps on the moon in 1969, this cute-as-a-button miniature diorama of a typical lounge room in the 60s will give you an idea of what it was like for the 600+ million people who tuned in. Then kick back in their life-size living room and watch "In the Event of a Moon Disaster", a thought-provoking doco that explores what might have occurred if the first moon landing hadn't been successful.
Dreaming the Moon
Vividly capturing the long-standing and intricate relationship First Nations people have with the solar system, Dreaming the Moon is a curated collection of artworks by influential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. These powerful pieces are a must-see.
Memento Moon
Watch artist Field Carr’s moving multiscreen mashup, which pays homage to the moon as a muse across cinema and television.
NASA’s Moon Rock
An actual, real-life rock from the actual, real-life moon—now on display for your viewing pleasure at WA Museum Boola Bardip. The sample was collected from the final crewed NASA Apollo 17 mission back in 1972, but this petite piece of history is thought to be over 4 billion years old.
Ode to the Moon
Bowie fan? Ode to the Moon lets you create your very own Bowie-inspired lyrics, using the same digital collage writing or ‘cut up’ technique that the late and great singer used to write Space Oddity.
Lunar Lounge
You won’t find any moonshine at this pop-up bar, but you will find blood orange negronis, light bites, music, eye-opening talks and more—here every Friday at WA Museum Boola Bardip. Sitting pretty under the warm glow of Museum Of The Moon, the bar is inspired by the sci-fi classic that shaped the science fiction genre we know and love today, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Future of the Moon
There’s been a lot of chat in recent years about sending humans back to the moon thanks to the visionary Artemis program. At Future of the Moon, you can get a glimpse into the very real future and recent past of Moon exploration with the 3D model of the Space Launch System mega-rocket and Orion that successfully launched as the first (uncrewed) mission. The first crewed flight is set for late 2025, and will likely be in a very similar spacecraft to the 3D model on display.
To the Moon runs from Tuesday 26 March to Monday 7 October, so grab your tickets for your celestial exploration here. Or head over to Western Australian Museum to get the full rundown of all the events, exhibitions and projects hitting their calendar next.
Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.
Image Credit: WA Museum Boola Bardip