School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester

What does a piece of the moon look like up close? Or a piece of Mars? Is it really red? Venture into the fascinating world of Planetary Science and learn about the formation and history of our Solar System.

Hold pieces of the moon, collected by the Apollo astronauts, in your own hands, as well as meteorites from Mars and asteroids. Then use microscopes to examine the meteorites in more detail and see what they are made of. Discover how 4.5 billion year old meteorites hold the key to understanding the history of our Solar System and how it evolved.

You can also take part in a meteorite impacting experiment, plan your own space mission, and see how volcanic eruptions reshape the surface of a planet. While you’re at it, why not have a chat about your discoveries with some of the scientists currently working in planetary sciences?