Produced by: Tarun Mishra
A seven-meter-diameter replica of the Moon is a major attraction at the India International Science Festival (IISF) held at IIT Guwahati. The exhibit, designed by British artist Luke Jerram, utilizes detailed images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to showcase the Moon’s surface.
Titled "The Museum of the Moon," the inflatable installation features high-resolution imagery, with each centimeter representing five kilometers of the lunar surface. The realistic depiction includes visible craters and mountains, captivating festival attendees.
ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somanath commended the Moon installation and expressed interest in collaborating with artists for similar models using India’s high-resolution lunar data. He emphasized that India's lunar imagery is widely used by global space agencies for Moon missions.
Although the replica does not mark the Shiv Shakti point—the site of India’s Chandrayaan 3 landing—it allows visitors to visualize India's historic achievement of being the first to land near the Moon's south pole.
The Chandrayaan 2 orbiter provided unprecedented high-resolution images of the lunar surface, acknowledged by global experts. These images continue to aid international lunar exploration and are a testament to India's space exploration capabilities.
Dr. Somanath hinted at Chandrayaan 4, India’s planned mission to bring back lunar samples from near the Shiv Shakti point. The follow-up mission will further enhance India’s role in lunar science.
The India International Science Festival, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, is an annual event promoting science and innovation. Organized by CSIR and Vigyan Bharati, it has drawn around 8,000 participants this year.
The Moon replica symbolizes the fusion of art and science, encouraging the public to engage with astronomical phenomena while showcasing advancements in lunar research and exploration.