30 Dec 2025
A dramatic six metre diameter spherical sculpture of the Sun by renowned UK artist Luke Jerram can now be seen in the Assembly Room at St Albans Museum + Gallery.
The immersive Helios experience offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience our nearest star up close, enhanced by a specially-crafted surround-sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
It follows the success of Luke’s Museum of the Moon exhibition at St Albans Cathedral last year.
Helios, who in ancient Greek mythology is the god who personifies the Sun, invites visitors to reflect on the immense power of the solar body, while celebrating science and art in equal measure.
At an approximate scale of 1:230 million, every centimetre of the internally lit sphere represents roughly 2,300 km of the Sun’s surface.
The surface imagery is composed of 72 dpi high-resolution photographs compiled from 400,000 of astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green’s images (taken between May 2018 and June 2024) and NASA observations, with guidance from solar scientist Professor Lucie Green of University College London.
Helios offers a unique opportunity to explore the Sun’s features including its sunspots, spicules, filaments, and even the source region of the solar flares that produced the Northern Lights visible from the UK in May 2024.
Multidisciplinary artist Luke Jerram said: “The importance of the Sun for all life on planet Earth cannot be understated. Highly venerated and influencing humanity since the dawn of time, it has fascinated scientists, inspired musicians, poets and artists, in societies right across the world. The position of the Sun in relation to the Earth alters constantly and as such, this relationship has been used as a timekeeper, defining our measurement of time and calendars throughout the ages.
“As well as provoking a sense of awe and wonder with the opportunity to see our most important celestial body up close, I hope that Helios will prompt important discussion about different issues, such as the environment, physical and mental health and wellbeing. Presenting Helios in the middle of winter, when it’s cold outside and sunshine is scarce, might have the potential to make visitors feel better!”
Helios runs until January 25. Entry is free but a booking system is in place so do check the website to schedule your visit at https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/helios
The Helios experience at St Albans Museum + Gallery.
