We welcome the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station, Tim Peake- also a bestselling author and an inspirational communicator of science to audiences of all ages in conversation with Kate Humble

This October we are delighted to welcome European Space Agency astronaut and author Major Tim Peake in conversation with Kate Humble to discus his latest book SPACE: The Human History.

From Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong to Valentina Tereshkova and Peggy Whitson, Tim’s latest book traces the lives of the remarkable men and women who forged the way in space. Join us for an evening of out of this world stories of space exploration, weightlessness and what it takes physically and mentally to get to outer space.

This event will take place in the Cathedral nave where Luke Jerram's stunning art installation The Museum of the Moon will be suspended above the audience. Each ticket comes with a signed hardback copy of SPACE: The Human History by Tim Peake priced at £22.

Date | Thursday 26 October 

Time | 7pm

Tickets | from £30 plus booking fee. Available from our Eventbrite page.

Useful information

• This event is in-person only and won't be streamed or recorded.
• Tickets come with a signed hardback copy of SPACE: The Human History by Tim Peake priced at £22.
• Couple tickets available which include one hardback copy of SPACE: The Human History
• Doors will open at 6.15pm for a 7pm start.
• Please note bag search maybe in operation on your arrival at the Cathedral and tickets are only available in advance.

About your speakers

Tim Peake was the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station. He is also a best-selling author and an inspirational communicator of science to audiences of all ages. Tim served as an army officer and a combat search and rescue instructor, and flew helicopter operations. Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009 and after arduous training Tim was assigned to a mission to the International Space Station in May 2013. He launched to space on 15 December 2015. Tim took part in over 250 scientific experiments during his mission. His Principia mission also focused on educational outreach, engaging more than 2 million schoolchildren across Europe in over 30 projects during his time in space.

Tim's bestselling books include: Hello, is this planet Earth? (Century, 2016) Ask An Astronaut (Century, 2017) and The Astronaut Selection Test Book (Century, 2018)

Kate Humble is a writer, smallholder, campaigner and one of the UK's best-known TV presenters. She started her television career as a researcher, later presenting programmes such as Animal Park, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Lambing Live, Living with Nomads, Extreme Wives, Back to the Land, A Country Life for Half the Price and Escape to the Farm.

Her books include Humble by Nature, Friend for Life, Thinking on My Feet, A Year of Living Simply and her first cookbook, Home Cooked. Thinking on My Feet was shortlisted for both the Wainwright Prize and the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year and Where the Hearth Is: What Makes a Home a Home which is to be published in autumn 2023.

Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface*.

The moon has always inspired humanity, acting as a ‘cultural mirror’ to society, reflecting the ideas and beliefs of all people around the world. Over the centuries, the moon has been interpreted as a god and as a planet. It has been used as a timekeeper, calendar and been a source of light to aid night-time navigation. Throughout history the moon has inspired artists, poets, scientists, writers and musicians the world over. The ethereal blue light cast by a full moon, the delicate crescent following the setting sun, or the mysterious dark side of the moon has evoked passion and exploration. Different cultures around the world have their own historical, cultural, scientific and religious relationships to the moon. And yet somehow, despite these differences, the moon connects us all.

The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones.

*The massive 23 metre wide, high resolution image used to create the moon artwork, was created by the Astrogeology Science Centre in the USA. The imagery was taken by a NASA satellite carrying the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera launched in 2010.