Events include: 

• Make Space for Everyone - a workshop for SEND learners in Mansfield

• Y6 Discovery Day

• The Moon Under the Microscope - a UoN science public lecture for families

• Imaging the Moon using telescopes and microscopes - an event for home-school students at Sherwood Observatory

• Microscopic Meteorites: Art, Science & Stories from Space - an art meets science exhibition at Sherwood Observatory

 Find out more below…

Summer of Space kicks off with Make Space for Everyone—a unique, hands-on workshop designed to ignite curiosity about space and microscopy, especially tailored for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Held in celebration of Yeoman Park Academy’s exciting move to a brand-new site, this event promises an inspiring mix of discovery and fun.

Students will explore the microscopic world with real meteorite samples and everyday objects at interactive microscope stations. The experience is enhanced with a range of sensory-friendly activities, including a mesmerising star projector, an inflatable solar system, and creative colouring stations.

Whether it’s seeing the features of a meteorite up close or watching stars swirl across the ceiling, this event is all about making space for curiosity, creativity, and every learner’s unique way of engaging with the world.

“We are thrilled to be working with the pupils and staff at Yeoman Park Academy to provide them with an opportunity to explore and learn more about Space. Alternative educational facilities often get overlooked for a number of reasons but as the name of the event suggests we can all ‘Make Space for Everyone"

Sally Schofield - Laboratory Support Technician & Event Lead, Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre

Local schoolchildren get the opportunity to meet current students, take part in an interactive campus tour, and learn all about Physics and Astronomy through interactive and hands on activities.

“There’s no better way to enthuse young people about the Universe and what it holds than with activities they can touch and feel. We really want to give young people who may not feel science is for them the chance to see it really is for everyone and is hugely exciting!”

Dr Emma Chapman, Senior Royal Society Fellow & Event Lead, School of Physics and Astronomy

We’re excited to invite local homeschooling families to a special afternoon of space exploration at Sherwood Observatory. Designed especially for curious young minds, this event combines immersive learning with hands-on discovery.

Step into the stars with a custom planetarium experience featuring spectacular space imagery — including real astronomical data captured by our team. This show is perfect for inspiring wonder and sparking questions about the universe.

After the show, head to the upper foyer for engaging tabletop science activities. Get hands-on with the Microscopic Meteorites exhibition, explore space-themed experiments, and chat with real astronomers about their work.

This event is suitable for all ages and is a fantastic opportunity for home-educated learners to explore astronomy in a fun and interactive way. 

Step into the invisible world of ancient space rocks — and see the Moon, Mars, and more like never before!

 Microscopic Meteorites is a unique exhibition that brings together science, art, and imagination. Featuring stunning microscope images and elemental maps, this display showcases real fragments of meteorites from the Moon, Mars, Vesta, and the K-Pg boundary layer — linked to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

 Explore:

• Beautifully coloured scans of meteorites at the microscale

• Powerful techniques like electron microscopy that reveal hidden minerals and cosmic textures

• The surprising connection between planetary geology and visual art

Whether you're a space enthusiast, a curious mind, or simply love a good story from the stars, this exhibition invites you to see meteorites in a whole new way — up close, in vibrant detail, and far beyond what the eye can see.