VISITORS to Colchester Castle will be able to view the Earth as it appears from the moon for a reduced price.

The museum is playing host to the Gaia artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.

The artwork is 2.1 million times smaller than the real Earth, with each centimetre of the sculpture representing 21km of the Earth’s surface.

By standing 181m away, visitors can view the Earth as it appears from the moon.

Now visitors to the work, which has been on display since July, can get to see it at a much reduced price. 

A special Gaze at Gaia event every weekday afternoon will see the ticket cost reduced to £5 from more than £12. 

The offer is available weekdays from 4pm to 4.30pm until October 25.

The artwork, measuring seven metres in diameter, provides a detailed view of Earth from space, using high-resolution NASA imagery.

Colchester Castle hopes the artwork will evoke "a deeper appreciation for our planet’s fragility and beauty".

The reduced entry fee is intended to make the event accessible to the community, giving families, students, and individuals the chance to see this impressive display.

Natalie Sommers, portfolio holder for communities, heritage, and public protection, said: "We are thrilled to host ‘Gaze at Gaia’ and provide our visitors with this special opportunity to engage with such a thought-provoking artwork.

"Gaia’s message of environmental awareness and our connection to the Earth resonates with visitors of all ages, and we’re excited to make this accessible to everyone with our £5 entry offer."

Gaia is a touring artwork by Jerram, known for his large-scale public engagement artworks.

He aims to communicate a sense of the planet's fragility through his work.

Outside of the offer hours Gaia is included in standard Castle admission.