First British astronaut opens new space museum at Grizedale Observatory

Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, officially opened a new Space Flight Memorabilia Museum at Grizedale Observatory & Planetarium today.

The observatory, in the Lake District, said it had "the enormous pleasure" of welcoming Ms Sharman for the opening on Friday 25th September.

Children from Hawkshead Primary School also attended, and had the chance to meet Ms Sharman, ask questions and hear first-hand about her experience of travelling into space.

The new museum now forms part of the Grizedale experience, alongside the observatory's planetarium and telescopes.

Visitors can discover the story of human spaceflight in the museum, journey through the universe in the planetarium, and, as darkness falls, head outside with astronomers to explore the night sky through telescopes.

The observatory said the attractions include the Space Flight Memorabilia Museum, the planetarium, and live telescope observing of the Moon, planets and deep-sky objects under the Lake District's dark skies.

"And when darkness falls, the real Universe is waiting. Come and experience it for yourself," the observatory said.