The Sun: Living with our Star, Exhibition, Science Museum, London: 6 October 2018- 6 May 2019

The Science Museum transports us to the centre of the solar system, to get up close and personal with our star. Not only does the Earth obey and orbit the Sun but human life as well. This is because the Sun is a source of life and power, the tool mankind uses to organise time, but also an influencer of our ideas. The Science Museum seeks to tell the story of humanities unchanging reliance upon and ever-changing understanding of the Sun.

The exhibition explores and sheds new light on humanities complex and long-standing relationship with its star. With the artefacts ranging from solar religious articles of the Nordic Bronze age (1800 BC- 500 BC) to information on future NASA and ESA expeditions.

You become an active astronaut the moment you go in, thanks to the varied mediums of the exhibition. Not only can you admire the objects on display, but also appreciate the stunning visuals and interactive experiences. These include jet setting around the world to watch the sun rise from different locations, as well as modelling historic sunglasses and sunbathing at the museum’s indoor beach.

The exhibition is divided into four, beginning with Days and Years segment, which looks how our understanding and measuring of the movements of the sun have changed. The next section examines the effect of sunlight on the body, in what is called Sunshine and Health. Afterwards you can learn how mankind has harnessed the power of the sun to make his own energy in the Power from the Sun quarter. Finally, the exhibition ends on the contemporary puzzles of the Sun in its Observing the Sun section, which looks at the potential threats this violent body could pose.

The Science Museum:

Special Exhibition Gallery 1, The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD

Opening Times:

Daily 10.00–18.00

Last entry 17.15